How big does Golden male fern grow?

About 1 m × 90 cm after ten years (height × width). Its ultimate size is 0.6–1.5 m × 0.6–1.2 m.

What soil does Golden male fern grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, clay, acidic.

Is Golden male fern hardy?

Hardy down to -34 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

How much water does Golden male fern need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: medium.

How much does Golden male fern cost?

It sells for roughly €7 to €16 in local shops, depending on size.

Golden male fern

Dryopteris affinis

Golden male fern (Dryopteris affinis) is a perennial that reaches 1 m × 90 cm after ten years. Light: part shade, shade. Hardy down to -34 °C. Drought tolerance: medium. Sold in local shops from about €7.

Illustration of Golden male fern — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

Golden male fern is a big, sturdy, shuttlecock-shaped fern: the fronds unfurl yellowish green in spring with stalks covered in golden-brown scales, and stay green well into a mild winter. It suits shade or part shade and moist, humus-rich soil, and does well under trees and on the north side of buildings. Nurseries mostly sell its crested forms, which stay a little shorter; cut the old fronds off in late winter.

Watch out for

It has no serious pests or diseases. In Central Europe the hot, dry summer is its weak point: the fronds brown in direct sun and in soil that dries out, so plant it in shade, mulch it and water it in drought during the first years. In a hard winter without snow the fronds are killed back, but it resprouts from the crown in spring.

Key facts

Light: Part shade, Shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Low
Size after 10 years: 1 m × 90 cm
Hardiness: down to -34 °C
Foliage: Semi-evergreen

Group	Perennial
Light	Part shade, Shade
Size after 10 years	1 m × 90 cm
Ultimate size	0.6–1.5 m × 0.6–1.2 m
Hardiness	down to -34 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Acidic
Foliage	Semi-evergreen
Flowering	no data
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium
Maintenance	Low
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no data
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	no data
Distance from paving	no data
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	70 cm
For dogs	no data
For cats	no data
For children	no data
Typical price	from about €7

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
17 cm	approx. €16
size not stated	approx. €7

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 13, 2026 · How our data is made

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Ground cover plants for shade Ground cover plants Plants for shade Perennials for part shade Perennials for clay soil Low-maintenance perennials

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