Scaly Male Fern Crispa Gracilis An adaptable, low-maintenance fern for partial shade, Dryopteris affinis Crispa Gracilis is a semi-evergreen perennial fern with a shuttlecock habit, smaller than the species. In very mild areas it will remain evergreen. The fronds are pale green with golden-brown scales on the stems, and are elaborately crested, giving a slightly congested appearance – the name means ‘curly and graceful’. This fern is fairly drought-tolerant once established, and will tolerate full sun in reliably moist soil. Scaly male fern Crispa Gracilis holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit. Site: Tolerates exposureSoil: Any moist but well-drained soilPosition: Partial shadeSeason of interest: All year in mild areasHardiness: Fully hardyHeight: 1’ (30cm) Spread: 1’ (30cm) Photo by Ellie Enking, cropped, and licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.