Dryopteris erythrosora Prolifica - Copper Fern

Dryopteris erythrosora 'Prolifica', a beautiful compact form of the coppery red fern with evergreen fronds, is as ornamental as it is hardy. Its delicate, feathery yet sturdy leaves, which change colour throughout the seasons, as well as its colourful sporangia and sometimes its tender green bulblets, bring colour to every season, creating a permanent and poetic atmosphere in the shade of the undergrowth. Plant it in the understory or in a partially shaded area of the garden, or even in the shade. Easy to grow in humus-rich and moist soils, its cultivation is within the reach of all gardeners.

Dryopteris erythrosora 'Prolifica' belongs to a large group of plants called Dryopteris ferns, which are all deciduous or semi-evergreen terrestrial species belonging to the Dryopteridaceae family. Native to East Asia, China, Korea and Japan, the botanical species is found on wooded hillsides and slopes in cool and moist temperate regions. The 'Prolifica' cultivar distinguishes itself with a shorter height and finer, redder and more elegant fronds. The plant can also produce aerial bulblets, called "proliferations," depending on the growing conditions.

The plant, established on a short, creeping and often ramified rootstock, forms a rather upright clump measuring approximately 55-65cm (22-26in) in height and 40-50cm (16-20in) in width. Its croziers unfurl in spring into young fronds that start off reddish-pink, gradually turning coppery orange and then green and shiny in winter. They are triangular in shape, bipinnate, and composed of dentate pinnae, creating a beautiful architectural structure. The evergreen foliage regenerates in spring, and it is recommended to cut back the old fronds damaged by the cold in late March or early April to enjoy the emergence of new fronds. Its species name, erythrosora, means "red sores": indeed, on the undersides of mature fronds, one can observe small dark red patches bordered by white arranged in two parallel rows on either side of the midrib, which are sporangia, the "fruits" of ferns containing the sores. When mature, the sores release spores that are dispersed by the wind.

A genuine shade or partial shade perennial, this vigorous Dryopteris 'Prolifica' can tolerate occasional drought, common under the canopy of tall trees in summer, even in humid climates. It can be paired with helxine, Eucomis, hostas, hydrangeas, and shrubby fuchsias, as well as chocolate or caramel-coloured Heucheras, always in filtered light or shade. In a small exotic scene, when paired with Fatsia japonica, for example, it does not go unnoticed. Its beautiful fronds will emerge from the shadows in a neglected corner of the terrace if planted in a large container filled with fertile soil.

The beautiful colouration of the fronds in spring and autumn has earned this fern its vernacular names of 'Copper Shield Fern', 'Coppery Frond Dryopteris', or 'Autumn Fern'.