Southern Wood-fern Dryopteris ludoviciana
- Phonetic Spelling
- dry-OP-ter-iss loo-doh-vik-ee-AH-nuh
- Description
-
Southern Wood-fern is a native fern from NC south to Florida and west to TX. It is found in the coastal areas of NC in swampy forested areas. It is evergreen in mild climates. The shiny upright leathery green fronds are very striking in the garden. This fern is a slow to moderate grower and will form vase-shaped clumps that slowly expand by short rhizomes. Genus name from the Greek dryas meaning oak and pteris meaning fern in reference to the presence of some species of wood ferns growing in oak forests.
Even though it is found in wet areas, Southern Wood-fern will adapt to average garden conditions in moist fertile soils in partial shade to full shade. Use this plant in a shade garden as a ground cover, in a woodland setting and along streams, bogs and ponds.
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 landscapes:
- Native Woodland Garden, Durham Sun to Shade Garden in Craven County
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Dryopteris
- Species:
- ludoviciana
- Family:
- Dryopteridaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeastern U.S.A.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Heavy shade, Deer
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Fern
- Native Plant
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Clumping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
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)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- No fruits. This plants reproduces via spores on the underside of the fertile fronds.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- No flowers.
-
-
Leaves:
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Fronds
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Deltoid
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The plant has both sterile and fertile dark green triangular fronds. The fertile ones are larger, (up to 3 feet in length) grow more upright, have narrower pennae and are narrower in overall shape. The sterile fronds are half as long and tend to grow outward. Leaflets are opposite on the stem
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Green stems are covered in brown scales on the lower portion
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Rain Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Small groups
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Heavy Shade
