Dryopteris celsa
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Aspidium goldieanum
- Dryopteris atropalustris
- Phonetic Spelling
- dry-OP-ter-iss SEL-sah
- Description
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Log fern is a semi-evergreen to evergreen fern in the polypody family (Polypodiaceae) native to central and eastern United States, including North Carolina, where it is found growing in moist woods and swamps. This species is a fertile allotetraploid that originated from the hybridization of two native ferns, Goldie’s woodfern (D. goldiana) and the southern woodfern (D. ludoviciana). The species epithet is Latin for “noble” and reflects the original author’s high esteem for this plant.
It prefers partial sun to shade in moist to wet soils with a slightly acidic to neutral pH but will also tolerate drier sites, such as decomposing logs. Propagate by division.
This fern grows upright to 3 to 4 feet tall and will spread 2 to 3 feet wide, spreading by creeping rhizomes. The fronds of this fern are dark green, moderately divided and lanceolate in general outline. The fertile fronds have sori that are rounded and in rows. Ferns in this group hybridize with one another, making identification problematic in some cases.
Use this fern in groups or borders of shade, woodland, native and winter gardens.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.
VIDEO Created by NC State Extension's Homegrown series featuring Mark Weathington, Director of JC Raulston Arboretum.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Dryopteris
- Species:
- celsa
- Family:
- Polypodiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North Central & Eastern U.S.A
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , DC , DE , GA , IL , IN , KY , MD , MI , MO , NC , NJ , NY , PA , SC , TN , TX , VA , WV
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Heavy Shade, This plant is seldom damaged by deer.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Fern
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Creeping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- No fruits. This plants reproduces via spores.
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Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- No flowers.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Soft
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Fronds
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenulate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Rich, dark green color; blade is pinnate-pinnatified, oblong and has firm texture; long, slender pinna tips; rhizomes and stipe scales are black; stipe is one third the frond length
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Near Septic
- Riparian
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Shade Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Dry Soil
- Heavy Shade
- Wet Soil
