The male fern is a good choice when looking for a suitable plant for the shade bed. The perennial is easy to care for and robust.
Male fern (Dryopteris) is a member of the male fern family and is mainly found in shady areas. With its unusual shape, it becomes a real eye-catcher in the garden. It is undemanding in terms of care and is often planted in borders or on wall areas.
Malnut - Origin
The male fern is mainly found in the northern part of the hemisphere and is becoming more and more popular in gardens in Germany. It owes this to its easy-care growth and special appearance. Especially in Central Europe, the Common Male Fern, also known as Native Male Fern or Common Male Fern, to find. People often wonder where the German name comes from. In fact, male fern has been used for a long time to treat worms in the body. Today, however, that is no longer the case.
» Important to know: Male fern is a poisonous plant.
| Native male fern (Dryopteris filix-mas) | |
|---|---|
| Growth: | upright, sprawling, clump-forming |
| Growth: | 50 - 90 cm |
| Growth: | 60 - 80 cm |
| Special feature: | robust, undemanding |
| Location: | Penumbral shade to full shade |
| Floor: | fresh, well-drained, very rich in humus, acidic, rich in nutrients |
Location and environment for male fern
In the wild, the male fern is mainly found where there is sufficient shade. It sits on embankments and can be found in mixed forests. He also makes his way along dry stone walls and also on heaps of rubble. This already shows that the demands on the environment and the soil are not that extensive.
The floor does not have to meet any special requirements either. It is enough if it is a fresh and rather dry soil. The male fern does not like too much moisture. Therefore, it can be in a sandy or loamysoil that has a slightly acidic tendency.
Planting male ferns - that's important
If the male fern is to be placed in the garden, autumn or spring is the best time to plant. The following points are important:
- If the soil is clayey, mix it with sand.
- The soil should be as loose as possible and can be enriched with compost.
- The fern tubers are placed in small planting holes.
- The tubers should only be planted halfway into the ground.
- Because of the wide fronds, the plants need a distance of at least 70 cm.
- After planting, an adequate water supply is important.
» Note: If the tubers are placed too close together, the fern arms cannot spread to the sides and the male fern often does not get the desired wide appearance.
Malnut Care
When it comes to care, the male fern doesn't have to be taken care of that much. The frugal perennial is happy when it gets water at regular intervals, but the soil doesn't get too wet. Budding occurs in spring. At this time, the soil can be additionally enriched with compost. Another fertilization is not necessary.
If the male fern grows well, it will be very large and wide. In the spring there is the possibility of dividing it. However, this should only be carried out if it is necessary from the optics point of view. This does not stimulate growth in any other way. The division involves some effort. A steady hand is required here so that the rosette is not damaged too badly. After the division, the fern should immediately return to the ground.
Propagating Male Fern
The male fern normally takes care of its own reproduction. It forms spores and these then detach from the leaves. The wind ensures that the spores are spread. However, if the fern is to be propagated directly in order to enlarge the area, it is possible to use cuttings. However, the cuttings should only be taken from older plants.
Possible pests and diseases
A major advantage of ferns is that they are relatively resistant to pests and diseases. If possible damage to the leaves shows, then there is a high probability that it is an infestation with caterpillars. In this case you can see where the caterpillars are sitting. It helps the fern if the caterpillars are picked off and removed by handwill. He recovers relatively quickly. Possible diseases of the plants are not known.