An indispensable group of hardy plants, which do well in most garden settings, including very shady and dry areas. Various sizes, shapes are available, with fronds bipinnate or more, providing some congested and intricate forms. Often the frond stem, or stipe, is scaly or hairy, which is different to the rest of the foliage and looks particularly beautiful as the croziers unfurl in the spring.
In common with most ferns, male-ferns have few specific wildlife attributes although their shuttlecock growth-form does provide cover for invertebrates in all seasons except mid-winter. However there are several micromoths whose larvae specialize in feeding upon them.Given the rapidly evolving nature of the genus, there are many very closely related species and subspecies: it is likely that gardens are important in harbouring genetic diversity, including forms that are extremely rare in the wild.