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Crested Buckler Fern

Dryopteris cristata

Last reviewed: August 2026

Crested Buckler Fern (Dryopteris cristata)
Photo: Carl Axel Magnus Lindman / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Toxicity unknown

Crested Buckler Fern (Dryopteris cristata) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Crested Buckler Fern as toxic to livestock.

Light

part shade

Water

medium

Size

12"–36" H × 12"–24" W

Bloom

N/A

Native to

AL, CT, DE, GA and 26 more states

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 445 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

PiedmontWestern Corn Belt PlainsGreat PlainsNorthern ForestsNorthern Lakes and ForestsNorth Central Hardwood ForestsDriftless AreaSoutheastern Wisconsin Till PlainsCentral Corn Belt PlainsEastern Corn Belt PlainsSouthern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift PlainsHuron/Erie Lake PlainsNortheastern HighlandsNortheastern Coastal ZoneNorthern Allegheny PlateauErie Drift PlainMiddle Atlantic Coastal PlainNorthern PiedmontSoutheastern PlainsBlue RidgeRidge and ValleyCentral AppalachiansWestern Allegheny PlateauInterior PlateauInterior River Valleys and HillsAcadian Plains and HillsEastern Great Lakes LowlandsAtlantic Coastal Pine Barrens

Crested buckler fern forms neat, upright clumps of deeply divided fronds. It thrives in partial shade with consistent moisture and provides elegant texture to shaded garden areas.

In an HOA neighborhood

Crested Buckler Fern is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.

Works well in: front yard, foundation, mid zone.

Wildlife value

As a fern, it does not attract pollinators but provides shelter and nesting material for small wildlife and birds.

Common questions

How much sun does Crested Buckler Fern need?
Crested Buckler Fern grows best in part shade conditions.
Where is Crested Buckler Fern native?
Crested Buckler Fern (Dryopteris cristata) is native to AL, CT, DE, GA and 26 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
Is Crested Buckler Fern toxic to livestock?
The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Crested Buckler Fern as toxic to livestock.
Is Crested Buckler Fern HOA-friendly?
Crested Buckler Fern is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

Ready to grow Crested Buckler Fern? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

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