Shaggy Shield Fern Dryopteris erythrosora
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- dry-OP-ter-iss er-rith-roh-SOR-uh
- Description
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Japanese Shield Fern is a small fern native to eastern Asia. They form an arching vase-shaped clump reaching a mature size of 2' tall and 2' wide. Grown in acidic high organic matter soils that stay moist. Plants will spread slowly over time through underground creeping rhizomes. It is a low maintenance fern that withstands full shade is resistant to browsing by rabbits. Protect plants from drying winds. This plant is seldom damaged by deer.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious 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 landscapes:
- Collector’s Garden Part Shade Garden, Durham County Sun and Shade Demonstration Garden, Buncombe County Colorful Borders A Sampling of Shade Gardens
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Brilliance'
- 'Brilliance'
- 'Brilliance'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Brilliance'
- 'Brilliance'
- 'Brilliance'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Dryopteris
- Species:
- erythrosora
- Family:
- Polypodiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- China to Temp. Eastern Asia
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Heavy shade, This plant is seldom damaged by deer.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Fern
- Ground Cover
- Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Clumping
- Vase
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- 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)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b
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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:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Orange
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Feel:
- Rough
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Fronds
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Young fronds are glossy, coppery pink; mature fronds are deep, glossy green; fronds are broad, triangular and bipinnate; segments have curved teeth; small scales on undersurface of midvein and pinna rachises; remains erect in winter; bright red indusia covering young sori.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Patio
- Small Space
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Fairy Garden
- Shade Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Mass Planting
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Heavy Shade
- Rabbits
- Urban Conditions
