{"product_id":"dryopteris-affinis","title":"Dryopteris affinis","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDryopteris affinis\u003c\/strong\u003e, the scaly male fern, is one of our most handsome and dependable native ferns, a stately, easy-going beauty that brings architectural elegance to any shady corner. Each spring its tightly coiled croziers unfurl into a perfect shuttlecock of arching, golden-green fronds, the stems clothed in striking golden-brown scales that give the plant its alternative names of golden male fern and golden-scaled male fern. Few hardy ferns offer such reliable presence with so little fuss.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHolder of the RHS Award of Garden Merit, this is a fern that earns its place. The bold, finely divided fronds mature to a rich mid-green and form a generous clump roughly 1–1.2m tall and around 1m across, reaching full stature over 5 to 10 years. As a semi-evergreen, it often holds its foliage well into winter in sheltered gardens, offering structure long after deciduous neighbours have faded.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow it\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe scaly male fern is wonderfully adaptable. It prefers partial to full shade and a moist but well-drained soil enriched with leaf mould or compost, thriving in everything from chalk and clay to loam and sand across the full range of pH. A north or east-facing, sheltered position suits it perfectly, think woodland border, the foot of a shady wall, or alongside a pond. It also grows handsomely in a large container of loam-based compost, provided it never dries out.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAspect:\u003c\/strong\u003e partial to full shade, ideal for north-facing beds\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e moisture-retentive yet well-drained\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e fully hardy across the UK\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCare:\u003c\/strong\u003e simply cut away tired fronds in late winter before new growth appears\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eLargely untroubled by pests, with no reported toxicity to people or pets, Dryopteris affinis is as practical as it is beautiful, a true cornerstone for the shade garden. Every fern we send out is nursery-grown and carefully selected, arriving strong, healthy and ready to settle straight into your garden.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"17cm","offer_id":57809523966335,"sku":"DRYOAFF17","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"url":"https:\/\/growtropicals.com\/products\/dryopteris-affinis","provider":"GrowTropicals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}