Dryopteris x australis
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Dryopteris australis
- Dryopteris clintoniana f. australis
- Dryopteris clintoniana var. australis
- Phonetic Spelling
- dry-OP-ter-iss au-STRAH-lis
- Description
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Dixie wood fern is a deciduous herbaceous perennial in the polypody family (Polypodiaceae). It occurs uncommonly throughout the Southeast, including North Carolina. It is believed to be a natural hybrid between the log fern (D. celsa) and the southern wood fern (D. ludoviciana), but some botanists treat this fern as a species (as Dryopteris australis).
It tolerates dry summers under the canopy of forests and wet sites of swampier areas. It performs best in part to full shade and moist rich humus soil with good drainage.
This clump-forming fern is attractive with arching fronds and short rhizomes. This fern can grow up to 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide.
Use in a shady woodland, along streams or ponds, in a rain garden or a native plant garden.
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:
- Juniper Level Botanic Gardens: Front Shade Garden Sun to Shade Garden in Craven County
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Dryopteris
- Species:
- australis
- Family:
- Dryopteridaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- SE USA
- Distribution:
- Virginia south to Louisiana.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Heavy Shade, This plant is seldom damaged by deer.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 5 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:
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Creeping
- Erect
- 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 Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 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:
- Glossy
- Soft
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Fronds
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Other/more complex
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Slender, lustrous, dark green fronds. The fertile terminal quarter of the frond has smaller segments and does not produce viable spores. Bipinnate with alternating bright green leaflets grow 4-5' tall.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Near Septic
- Pond
- Riparian
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Rain Garden
- Shade Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Dry Soil
- Heavy Shade
- Wet Soil
