Dryopteris cycadina - Black Wood Fern

Dryopteris cycadina (atrata) is a robust fern of Japanese origin, with graceful lance-shaped fronds that are particularly stylised, with their streamlined shape and contrasting colour, bright green highlighted with black. The plant forms a nicely symmetrical upright clump, composed of light leaves that gently arch at their tips, with rachis and veins covered in almost black scales. This evergreen to semi-evergreen species can sometimes be a bit frost-sensitive, but it thrives easily in partially shaded beds, in well-drained, humus-rich soil that is not too dry.

Dryopteris cycadina is a fern that owes its name to the general shape of its frond, which resembles that of the Cycas revoluta. This perennial plant of the dryopteridaceae family is native to oak forests in the north of India, China, Taiwan, and Japan. Its robust stump is composed of short creeping rhizomes, from which arise in spring curled young fronds covered in black scales. They unfurl and develop into upright fronds, with the tips slightly arched towards the ground. They are borne on long petioles and arranged in a regular crown, forming a clump that is 60 to 70cm (24 to 28in) tall and 50 to 60cm (20 to 24in) wide. Petiole and rachis remain covered in shiny, dark brown scales, and the undersides of the pinnae are marked with black veins. These fine dark lines precisely highlight the fairly light green of the lamina, and the smallest details of the leaf architecture. Generally evergreen, this species can sometimes be partially deciduous in cold climates, which can damage the foliage if not protected with mulch.

The Dryopteris cycadina is a fern with refined, precious, and sophisticated aesthetics, to be planted as a specimen or in partially shaded beds, alongside light or silver foliage, such as that of Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost' for example, or next to colourful creeping bugles, like Ajuga reptans 'Atropurpurea', with its almost black chocolate foliage, or Ajuga reptans 'Burgundi Glow' with its silver-green or golden-green leaves variegated with wine red. In cold areas, a layer of dead leaves should be placed over the stump to prevent potential damage from frost.