Wallich's Wood Fern Dryopteris wallichiana
- Phonetic Spelling
- dry-OP-ter-iss wal-ik-ee-AY-nah
- Description
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Wallich's Wood Fern is a deciduous to semi-evergreen fern native to Hawaii, Mexico and Jamaica. It grows up to 4 feet tall in a vase shape around a central crown. The pale green fronds contrast nicely with the dark brown scaly ribs. 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.
Plant in moist well-drained soils in partial shade to full shade. For a fern, it is fairly drought tolerant once established. Mulch to help retain moisture. Divide every few years when crowded. Use in a border, under shrubs or as a shady site groundcover.
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:
- wallichiana
- Family:
- Polypodiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Himalayas, Hawaii, Mexico and Jamaica
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Heavy shade, This plant is seldom damaged by deer.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Fern
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Clumping
- Vase
- 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
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 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:
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Rough
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Fronds
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Other/more complex
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Blade is pinnate-pinnatified and oblong-lance shaped, leathery, lustrous and dark green; segments are oblong and squarish at tip; stipe is one fourth or less of the frond length; densely clothed with reddish black scales.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Hair-like scaly brown stems unfurl to produce the leaves
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Riparian
- Small Space
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Rabbits
