It favors moderately acid to circumneutral soils in cooler areas but is fairly drought-resistant once established.

In the warmer parts of its range, it is most likely to be found on north-facing non-calcareous rock faces.

It is common in many altitudes throughout its range, from high ledges to rocky slopes and stream banks.

[3] The stipe itself is grooved on the upward-facing side and dark red-brown at the base and becoming green further up the leaf.

[5] Dryopteris marginalis is grown in gardens in part to full shade, it is an evergreen non-spreading fern that forms a vase-shaped clump of leathery, deeply cut fronds.