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 atrata is the shaggy shield fern, deciduous or semi-evergreen, making a conical clump of elegant, arching fronds whose stems develop black hairs, in striking contrast to its bright green fronds.