Dryopteris Erythrosora Japanese Shield Fern

Dryopteris Erythrosora is also known as the Japanese Shield Fern or the Copper Shield Fern. This semi-evergreen fern boasts very attractive triangular, coppery pink young leaves or fronds that become darker green as they age. The striking young fronds create eye-catching contrasts against the lush green backdrop of mature foliage, only adding to this compact fern’s overall appeal. Additionally, the spore heaps (located on the underside of fern leaves) are also a vibrant coppery pink hue. Dryopteris Erythrosora is one of the RHS recommended plants. It received the prestigious Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society, a sure sign that it will perform well in most gardens.

Height and Spread of Dryopteris Erythrosora
Copper Shield Fern is a compact, clump-forming fern that has a fast growth rate. It will grow to be between 50 centimetres and 1 metre high and wide.

How Hardy is Dryopteris Erythrosora
Hardy throughout most of the United Kingdom, Japanese Shield Fern will fare well in temperatures up to -10 degrees Celsius.

How To Use Dryopteris Erythrosora
Owing to their preference for shady, moist, and cool spots in the garden, ferns make a fantastic choice for underplanting trees (mimicking their natural woodland habitat) or to add interest to dark corners of your garden. Ferns are generally acknowledged to be ideal plants for North Facing walls or gardens.

How To Care For Dryopteris Erythrosora
As ferns are primarily woodland plants, they need plenty of moisture and will thrive in shady, sheltered corners. You can grow Japanese Shield Fern in a sunny location in the garden but it will require a lot more watering to survive.

Put plenty of moist mulch or garden compost into the hole when planting and trim back the old leaves in winter to allow new growth in spring. Copper Shield Fern is an undemanding cultivar that is considered to be pest and disease free when grown outdoors.