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Wallich's Wood Fern Dryopteris wallichiana

Phonetic Spelling
dry-OP-ter-iss wal-ik-ee-AY-nah
Description

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. Divide every few years when crowded.

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. Use in a border, under shrubs or as a shady site groundcover.

VIDEO Created by NC State Extension's Homegrown series featuring Mark Weathington, Director of JC Raulston Arboretum.

More information on Dryopteris.

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Tags:
#deciduous#semi-evergreen#shade garden#fern#mass planting#deer resistant#partial shade tolerant#woodland garden
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#semi-evergreen#shade garden#fern#mass planting#deer resistant#partial shade tolerant#woodland garden
  • 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.
  • 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
  • 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
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Description:
    No fruits. This plants reproduces via spores.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Description:
    No flowers.
  • 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 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.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Hair-like scaly brown stems unfurl to produce the leaves
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Small Space
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Cottage Garden
    Shade Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Small groups
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Rabbits