Dryopteris erythrosora (Copper Shield Fern) – Hardy Fern (3 x 9cm Pots)

Vivid copper red fronds unfurl in spring and mature to deep glossy green, changing through the season.

The copper shield fern is one of the most dependable hardy ferns for a British garden and holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit. It is semi-evergreen, holding foliage through much of the year, so it gives texture and structure long after the flowering plants have finished.

It thrives in shaded and partly shaded places: woodland gardens, north facing borders, cottage planting and the damp corners where other plants sulk. It copes with ground that stays wet, works as ground cover beneath trees and shrubs, and is equally happy in a container on a shaded terrace.

The set contains three individually grown plants in 9cm pots, ready to plant straight out.

Cultural Information

• Common Name: Copper shield fern, Japanese shield fern, autumn fern
• Fully Grown Height and Spread: 45cm to 60cm tall by 45cm to 60cm wide, depending on conditions
• Growth Habit: Upright, vase shaped clump
• Perfect For: Shaded borders, woodland gardens, north facing gardens, containers, rockeries and ground cover under trees
• Foliage: Vivid copper red new fronds maturing to deep glossy green
• Flowering Time: None. Ferns carry no flowers and spread by spores.
• Planting Position: Partial shade to full shade, sheltered from wind in soil that stays moist. Grows well in a container.
• Soil Type: Moist, humus rich soil that drains freely. It tolerates damp and wet ground.
• Hardiness: Fully hardy. It comes through a British winter outdoors without protection.
• Maintenance: Low. Cut away old or tired fronds in early spring before the new ones unfurl, and mulch in spring to hold moisture in.
• Seasonal Interest: Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.
• Type: Hardy semi-evergreen fern, holder of the RHS Award of Garden Merit