When to plant and prune Male Fern
Male Fern is grown for foliage and form rather than flowers and the dates below cover planting, flowering and the pruning window.
Planting, flowering and pruning by region
Male Fern is grown to the calendar rather than to the frost, so the same dates apply across the whole UK and every region below reads the same. Where a plant’s timings do follow the frost, Plot shifts them from the Midlands and Lowland Wales baseline using Met Office average frost dates.
| Where you are | Plant | Prune |
|---|---|---|
| South West Coast and Cornwall | late March to early May | early February to early March |
| South Coast and Channel | late March to early May | early February to early March |
| Greater London (Urban Heat Island) | late March to early May | early February to early March |
| South East and Home Counties | late March to early May | early February to early March |
| East Anglia | late March to early May | early February to early March |
| Midlands and Lowland Wales | late March to early May | early February to early March |
| Wales and West Coast | late March to early May | early February to early March |
| Northern England | late March to early May | early February to early March |
| Scotland Lowlands and Central Belt | late March to early May | early February to early March |
| Scotland Highlands and Islands | late March to early May | early February to early March |
| Northern Ireland | late March to early May | early February to early March |
| Channel Islands and Isle of Man | late March to early May | early February to early March |
Growing notes
A native fern and the easiest choice for a shady British garden, including the dry shade at the foot of a north wall once it is established. Mulch annually in spring instead of feeding.
At a glance
- Spacing
- 80 cm between plants
- Eventual height
- 120 cm
- Eventual spread
- 100 cm
- Hardiness
- H7
- Sun
- Shade tolerant
- Frost tender
- No
- Grows in a container
- Yes, 20 litres or more
- Balcony rating
- 3 out of 5
Pruning: what to avoid
Timing is everything: take the old fronds off in February or very early March. Once the coiled croziers start to unfurl, cutting or treading among them damages the whole season's growth, and the new fronds will not be replaced.
Pruning group
Cut last year's fronds off at the base in late winter, before the new croziers unfurl
What usually goes wrong
- brown, crisped frond tips in dry soil
- slugs and snails on unfurling fronds
- crown rot in waterlogged ground
- vine weevil in pots
Related guides
Timings cross-checked against RHS guidance for male fern.