Ferns🌿 Native to the NetherlandsVery hardy — tolerates frost down to -20°C

Broad buckler-fern

Name: Broad buckler-fern (Dryopteris dilatata)
Brand: HSMN Planten
SKU: 6a8b542a22e403169e0c219e
Price: 6.45 EUR
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Dryopteris dilatata

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Broad Buckler Fern (Dryopteris dilatata) is an originally native fern with broad, triangular, and finely divided dark green leaves. The stalks carry brown scales with a characteristic dark center stripe. The leaves grow in a wide, funnel-shaped clump and largely die back during winter. The species naturally grows in moist deciduous and coniferous forests, hedges, shrubs, ditch edges, on shaded banks, and among rotting wood. In summer and early autumn, round sori appear on the underside of the leaves. Broad Buckler Fern is suitable as undergrowth beneath trees and large shrubs.

Specific care needed

Plant in humus-rich soil that remains moist but is not constantly submerged. An annual layer of leaf compost or natural leaf litter helps keep the soil cool and humic. Protect young plants from drying out during prolonged droughts.

Year calendar

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
🍂Has autumn colour

Pruning period

✂️Best pruning period: Feb–Mar

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
✂️ Pruning period

Best pruning period

Remove old or damaged leaves just before the new curled fronds appear. Preferably leave dead foliage throughout winter as shelter for small animals.

Botanical profile

Site & soil

Half shade, Shade

Soil type: Sand, Loam, Peat, Humus-rich

Moisture need: Moderately moist, Moist

pH: Acidic (<5.5), Slightly acidic (5.5–6.5)

Nutrient richness: Nutrient-poor, Moderately nutrient-rich

Humus content: Moderately humus-rich, Humus-rich, Peaty

Water drainage: Well draining, Moisture-retentive

Appearance & season

Mature height: 30-120cm

Bloom: Niet van toepassing

Autumn colour: The leaves turn yellow-green to brown and die back during the winter.

Properties

Salt sensitive: Yes

Edible: No

Broad Buckler Fern is not a food plant and is not recommended for consumption.

Scent: No distinctive odor. Bruised leaves may emit a light green and earthy fern scent.

Creeping rhizome: No

Ecological value

The leaves are utilized by various specialized fern-feeders, including caterpillars, leaf miners, beetles, bugs, aphids, and snails. These animals in turn provide food for birds, shrews, hedgehogs, amphibians, and other insectivores. The broad clump keeps the forest floor cool and moist and offers shelter to spiders, woodlice, millipedes, and small mammals. Dying leaves are broken down by fungi and soil organisms, thus providing organic material to the soil food web. The fern produces no nectar or pollen.

Food web & Biodiversity

🐛 Caterpillars & mothsVery useful

🐝 Bees & bumblebeesLimited

🪰 HoverfliesUseful

🦋 ButterfliesUseful

🪲 Beetles & insectsVery useful

🐦 BirdsUseful

🐿️ MammalsUseful

🐞 Other animalsVery useful

Broad Buckler Fern provides no nectar but forms food and habitat for various fern-dependent caterpillars and other insects. The dense clump offers cover for small mammals, amphibians, and soil animals. Birds search among the leaves for caterpillars, snails, spiders, and beetles.

Distribution in the Netherlands