Dryopteris affinis 'Cristata the King' RHS AGM

Dryopteris affinis ‘Cristata The King’

Dryopteris affinis ‘Cristata The King’ is a magnificent semi-evergreen fern, prized for its tall, stately habit and distinctive fronds, each beautifully crested and tasselled at the tips of the fronds and individual pinnae.

Forming an impressive, upright shuttlecock-shaped clump approximately 1–1.2m tall and 90–120cm wide, this robust fern creates a striking architectural feature in woodland gardens and shady borders.

Grow in partial to full shade in fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil. Once established, it tolerates periods of dry shade, making it particularly useful beneath trees and shrubs. An excellent choice for woodland planting, large shady borders, fern collections and naturalistic gardens, ‘Cristata The King’ combines dramatic foliage with exceptional toughness and relatively low maintenance.