• Image of Dryopteris affinis 'The King' taken at Chopko Gdn, NJ
  • Image of Dryopteris affinis 'The King' taken at Juniper Level Botanic Gdn, NC by JLBG
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Dryopteris affinis 'The King'

The King Male Fern

This plant is not currently for sale. This is an archive page preserved for informational use.

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Item #: 2257

Zones: 4a to 8b

Dormancy: Evergreen

Height: 30" tall

Culture: Part Sun to Shade

Origin: Europe

Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)


Is this a macho hardy fern or what? Dryopteris 'The King' is a remnant from England's Victorian fern craze that makes a superb garden specimen to 30" tall x 30" wide. The broad, semi-evergreen, rich green fronds boast petticoats on both the end of each pinnae and the end of each frond. Imagine a king with that many petticoats and without a wife...hmmm. Regardless, Dryopteris 'The King' is a great deer-resistant specimen fern for that prized spot in the woodland garden.