Perennial · Dryopteridaceae family
Male fern
Dryopteris filix-mas
In short a 10-second read
spacing 70 cm
Where to plant and how much to water
Light, soil and water.
It grows best in part shade to shade, in soil from dry to moist.
Sun
Soil
Watering
Frost
How much space it takes
Mature size.
The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).
Plant 70 cm apart.
Reaches maturity in about 5–10 years. The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.
Calendar
Through the year.
Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.
The year at a glance
Planting
container plant: April–May, September–October
Feeding
March–May
What to plant now (April) full list in April (324) →What to plant now (May) full list in May (186) →What to plant now (September) full list in September (147) →What to plant now (October) full list in October (244) →
Feeding
Nutrition.
Pests and diseases
Common problems and what to do.
The most common problems in Central Europe. Protection is listed from the gentlest option.
No serious pests or diseases
The source lists no significant problems.
What to combine it with
Same needs, different flowering.
They share the same sun and soil and flower in other months — so the bed flowers for longer.
Siebold's hosta
0.4–1 m
largeleaf brunnera
0.3–0.45 m
lily of the valley
0.15–0.25 mReady-made Studio combinations with this plant
Click a combination — the Studio opens a new raised bed with it already planted.
Frequently asked
Quick answers.
Does male fern tolerate shade?
Yes, it tolerates full shade.
How much space does male fern need?
At maturity 0.6–0.9 m wide and 0.6–0.9 m tall; recommended spacing 70 cm.
Sources (17) Checked 24 October 2026
- plants.ces.ncsu.edu
- missouribotanicalgarden.org
- api.gbif.org 2
- gaertnerei-strickler.de
- shop.foerster-stauden.de
- stauden-stade.de
- rhs.org.uk 2 3
- yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu
- Invasive plant lists — this species is not on them: EU, Slovakia, Czechia, Germany, Poland, Denmark
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