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Cystopteris bulbifera
alpine bladder fern
A delicate, rosette-forming, deciduous fern about 30cm tall, quick to establish, with upright rhizomes and tufts of pale green fronds to 75cm long with lance-shaped segments. Bulbils develop beneath often red-tinted midribs
Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Clay
Loam
Moisture
Moist but well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Green | |||
| Autumn | Green | |||
| Winter |
Position
- Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or North–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H7Botanical details
- Family
- Woodsiaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Tufted
- Name status
Unresolved
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in partial shade with shelter from cold, drying winds. See how to grow ferns for further advice
Propagation
Propagate by division in spring or plant bulbils in late summer
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- City and courtyard gardens
- Cottage and informal garden
- Rock garden
- Flower borders and beds
Pruning
Tidy spent leaves in autumn
Pests
Generally pest-free
Diseases
Generally disease-free
Get involved
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