Dryopteris affinis The King Lepisorus This toad lily was originally

This toad lily was originally introduced by John Elsley of Wayside Gardens under the incorrect name Tricyrtis formosana 'Amethystina' (an extinct clone of the running species)

The deer-resistant plants emerge from the ground in early May and within a couple of weeks are covered in showy orange (RHS 28A)

narrow green leaves

but is strangely absent from most American gardens

The 18" stems of fuzzy

Dryopteris affinis The King Lepisorus This toad lily was originallyIs this a macho hardy fern or what? Dryopteris 'The King' is a remnant from England's Victorian fern craze that makes a superb garden specimen to 30" tall x 30" wide. The broad, semi evergreen, rich green fronds boast petticoats on both the end of each pinnae and the end of each frond. Imagine a king with that many petticoats and without a wife hmmm. Regardless, Dryopteris 'The King' is a great deer resistant specimen fern for that prized spot in the