{"product_id":"dryopteris-affinis-crispa","title":"Dryopteris affinis 'Crispa'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eDryopteris affinis\u003c\/em\u003e 'Crispa' is a handsome, crested form of the golden-scaled male fern, prized for the way each frond is tightly crimped and frilled along its length. The result is a dense, almost ruffled shuttlecock of foliage that catches the light beautifully in a shady border. As a compact, well-behaved selection of the \u003cem\u003escaly male fern\u003c\/em\u003e, it brings texture and a touch of refinement that the plain species cannot match, which is exactly why it has earned the RHS Award of Garden Merit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn spring the new croziers unfurl a soft golden-green, set off by the warm golden-brown scales that clothe the stems and midribs, the feature that gives this \u003cem\u003edryopteris fern\u003c\/em\u003e its name. The fronds deepen to a rich green through summer and, in milder gardens, much of the foliage holds through winter, making this a genuinely semi-evergreen plant that earns its place all year round.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow it\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is one of the most adaptable and forgiving of all \u003cem\u003ehardy fern\u003c\/em\u003e choices for the \u003cem\u003eUK\u003c\/em\u003e garden. It thrives in partial or full shade, making it perfect for north and east-facing borders, woodland-edge plantings, and those tricky spots beneath trees and shrubs where little else looks happy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e partial to full shade, sheltered from harsh, drying winds.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e moist but well-drained, on clay, loam, chalk or sand; tolerant of acid, neutral or alkaline ground enriched with leaf mould.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e fully hardy across the UK, withstanding roughly -20C.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEventual size:\u003c\/strong\u003e a clump of around 60-90cm tall and 60-75cm wide, reaching full stature in five to ten years.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCare is wonderfully low: keep the roots cool and reliably moist, mulch in autumn, and simply trim away any tired fronds in late winter before the fresh growth appears. As a robust relative of the native \u003cem\u003emale fern\u003c\/em\u003e, it shrugs off pests and disease and asks almost nothing of you in return. It also pairs effortlessly with hostas, hellebores and woodland bulbs for a layered, naturalistic feel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery fern we send out is a strong, well-rooted, nursery-grown plant, ready to establish quickly and give years of elegant, undemanding structure in your garden.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"11cm","offer_id":57809541431679,"sku":"DRYOAFFCRIS11","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"url":"https:\/\/growtropicals.com\/products\/dryopteris-affinis-crispa","provider":"GrowTropicals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}