Nature Table: Male fern

Male fern is a common perennial plant in moist woodland and in mature woods it can be impressive with clumps reaching 150cm or more in height.

Some Irish ferns are deciduous and some are evergreen. Male fern is described as ‘semi-evergreen’ but in this country there is little die-back in mild winters in sheltered woods.

In the past it was thought to be the male form of the smaller and more delicate Lady fern, though we now know they are separate species. Ferns are ancient, non-flowering plants and the evolutionary success of the flowering plants has tended to restrict them to less favourable ecological niches.