Intermediate Shield Fern Dryopteris intermedia
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- dry-OP-ter-iss in-ter-MEE-dee-ah
- Description
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The evergreen wood fern is in the polypody family (Polypodiaceae). The fern is native to the eastern half of North America. The species epithet is Latin for “intermediate,” the meaning of which was unexplained at the time the species was named.
It prefers moist, shady sites but will tolerate dryish conditions on a short term basis. This fern does not spread. Plant in an area protected from strong winds that may damage the fronds.The fern grows in clay or loamy, rich acidic soil. It can take dappled light to deep shade.
This fern is easy to grow. Its fronds are evergreen to semi-evergreen in climates that experience mild winters. In locations where it is not evergreen, the old fronds should be removed during the winter months before the new spring growth begins.
The evergreen wood fern can be grown in native or shade gardens, in woodlands, or in moist rocky areas.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious issues.
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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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Dryopteris
- Species:
- intermedia
- Family:
- Dryopteridaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North America
- Distribution:
- Eastern United States
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Heavy shade, This plant is seldom damaged by deer.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Fern
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Mounding
- 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)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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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
- Leaf Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Rough
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Fronds
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Other/more complex
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenulate
- Lobed
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Deeply dissected blades arranged in circular cluster; blade is oval to narrowly triangular, bippinnate pinnatified to tripinnate and thin textured; minute glands on blade; first lower pinnule on basal pinna is shorter than the second; stipe has light brown scales and is one fourth to one third the frond length
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Naturalized Area
- Near Septic
- Small Space
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Shade Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Dry Soil
- Heavy Shade
- Wet Soil
