Broad Buckler Fern
Dryopteris dilatata
Broad Buckler Fern is a perennial for groundcover, mid-border, suited to full sun to partial shade and clay, loam, acid soil or moist ground, flowering varies by climate.
| Type | Perennial |
|---|---|
| Mature height | 90 cm |
| Spread | 90 cm |
| Aspect | full sun to partial shade |
| Foliage | Evergreen |
| Hardiness | USDA 6a-8b, RHS H6 |
| Pollinator-friendly | No |
| Pet-safe | Yes |
Where to use it in a border
At around 90 cm, it sits best along the front edge, where a low, spreading habit reads best. Give it about 90 cm of room to spread. It is hardy across USDA zones 6a to 8b and rated H6 by the RHS, so check it suits your area before planting.
It appears in our lists of shade, clay soil, acid soil, wet soil, evergreen plants, pet-safe plants.
Border Builder uses Broad Buckler Fern's height, spread, soil, bloom months and companions to place it in a full border plan for your own conditions, on iPhone and iPad.
Flowering through the year
Worth knowing
- Evergreen, so it keeps the border furnished through winter.
- It copes with ground that stays wet, which most border plants will not.
- It tolerates acid soil but dislikes shallow chalk.
- It tolerates a shaded, north-facing spot.
Good companions
Plants that share its conditions and style, chosen to complement its place in the border:
- Allegheny Spurgeto edge in front
- Alumroot 'Palace Purple'to edge in front
- Appalachian Sedgeto edge in front
- Black Cohoshfor height behind it
- Bloodrootto edge in front
- Bugleto edge in front