While most commonly found on vertical rock faces, it also grows in rocky scree.

Cystopteris bulbifera is a low-growing rock fern with creeping stems and narrow elongate deltate fronds which grow to 75 cm (30 in).

C. bulbifera is unusual among ferns in producing bulblets along the bottom of the fronds.

Hybrids with C. fragilis have given rise to the allohexaploid species Cystopteris laurentiana.

The hybrid with C. reevesiana has given rise to the allotetraploid species Cystopteris utahensis.