Update on this fern: We believe this is Dryopteris dickinsii ‘Crispa’ (see notes in italics below). A handsome evergreen from the Asian continent that has lovely ruffled pinnae and a slightly arching rosette habit. It has dark brown to black scales, particularly toward the base of the stipe and reaches a mature of height of just over one foot.

We are still working on a positive ID for this fern that we received under several differeing names, D. affinis ‘Crispa Congesta’ and D. affinis ‘Congesta’. It is definitely not ‘Crispa Congesta’, since that is a dwarf fern that stays compact, under 12” at its mature size and is synonymously known as ‘Crispa Gracilis’. it may be D. affinis ‘Congesta’, but the black scales indicate this is probably not D. affinis and rather a cultivar of another Dryopteris species. At any rate, this is a handsome Male Fern with undulated foliage which is very adaptable to a wide variety of conditions. We will keep you posted once we reach a positive ID on this cultivar!

So far the closest old reference we have found in Druery’s British Ferns and Their Varieties, and Choice British Ferns is Lastrea montana (oreropteris) ‘Congestum’, where he notes (in the former book, page 158) that “A number of very good congested forms have been found; the best we have seen is crispatissima', found by Mr. Gott near Troutbeck.”

Cultivation Information:

Frond Condition: Evergreen

Root System Type: Central Crown or Caudex

Origin: Eastern Asia, China, Japan, Taiwan

Mature Size: 15'“ tall, Slightly arching to a spread of 2’

TBD upon postive ID. So far the specimens we have have reached a size of 12” and we suspect they may eventually reach a larger size but are still waiting to see

Cultivation Requirements: Part Sun to Shade, Moist to Dryish

USDA Zones: 6, 7, 8, 9