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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.

More information on Dryopteris.

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscapes:
Native Woodland Garden, Durham Sun to Shade Garden in Craven County
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#shade garden#fern#moist soil#NC native#deer resistant#native fern#food source summer#food source herbage#Coastal FACW#Piedmont Mountains FACW#wet soils tolerant#Audubon#heavy shade tolerant#boggy sites#ponds#streams
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#shade garden#fern#moist soil#NC native#deer resistant#native fern#food source summer#food source herbage#Coastal FACW#Piedmont Mountains FACW#wet soils tolerant#Audubon#heavy shade tolerant#boggy sites#ponds#streams
  • 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