The shield ferns give interesting structure and colour in cool places throughout the summer. The pinnate fronds emerge in spring, and may have bronze or even pinkish colours at first, usually becoming darkish green. The details of the frond structure differ with the variety, and there are some remarkable cultivated forms.

Dryopteris filix-mas is the male fern, a native to Britain and much of the rest of the northern hemisphere. It is semi-evergreen, and has robust, bipinnate fronds. Good and easy as a structural plant in shady places.