The term 'Cristatum' is really a blanket designation covering a wide array of various forms with divided fronds. The Victorians named every nuance of forked, fan-shaped,branched, or bunched, divisions with a descriptive Latin epithet and or finder's name. Some accounts list upwards of 350 or more named forms which are difficult to conclusively assign today. Since this species and its variable progeny are capable of tremendous innovation when raised from spores only a fraction of the sporting offspring are "true" or repeats of the original parent. In the strict sense of the Cristate section the cresting occurs in the top third of the frond and goes on to re-divide into apical crests and tassels. Many of the offspring may also include some from the ‘Ramose Cristate’ section where the initial division occurs in the lower third of the frond, even as low as the stipe, as well as dividing at the tip or apex. You will often see both types of cresting occurring on an individual frond as well as the same frond on a single plant. Size as well as degree of cresting is also variable even when sowing from a single selected form. As with other English tongue ferns, this fern prefers a somewhat moist shady spot with a touch of calcium in the soil.

Frond Condition: Evergreen
Mature Height: 12-20 inches
Origin: U.K.
Cultural Requirements: Partly Shaded, Full Shade, Evenly Moist, Slightly Moist, Calcium
USDA Zones: 6, 7, 8, 9