ELEPHANT TRUNK FERN

Dryopteris atrata  – The black stems of this fern accent the fronds quite well. Looks great in shady borders or woodland edges. When grown with plenty of water, it can be a larger grower, reaching up to 1 m tall. Also interesting as a solitary plant when it becomes bigger, just like a lonely dinosaur in your garden.

SUBSTRATE & WATERING

Grows well under medium light in moist-dry garden soil or potting mix.

Elephant trunk croziers. Firm, dark green, thick leathery fronds.

Elephant Trunk Fern, is a semi-evergreen, short-creeping fern with distinctive fronds, being very dark green and heavily textured.

Black stems offer nice contrast.

The unfurling leaves strongly resemble an elephant trunk, later the leaves become leathery and the plant has a very robust appearance. This is also due to the powerful, simple leaf shape, which is cut only once.

Cover the first winter after planting.

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Richard Hayward

The plant hunter

Richard Hayward, a famous British fern collector, has enjoyed ferns ever since he encountered them as a boy scout in South Wales and took them to London as souvenirs. After his retirement he owned a small fern farm in North Wales. He still exchanges spores and plants of rare species with other fern enthusiasts.

"I love ferns because of their diversity in shape, foliage, colour and beauty and their enormous urge to survive."

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