Dryopteris
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- dry-OP-ter-iss
- Description
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Wood ferns are members of the polypody family (Polypodiaceae). The native range of this genus is cosmopolitan, found throughout North America and on every continent except Antarctica. The genus name is compounded from the Greek words, Dryo-, meaning “woods,” and -pteris, meaning “fern.”
These ferns love to grow in shade, but they can tolerate partial sun. They prefer moist, rich, well-drained woodland soil. A few species are found in swamps, but most do not require wet habitats.
Several species are native to North Carolina, including dixie wood fern (Dryopteris x australis), log fern (Dryopteris celsa), intermediate fern (Dryopteris intermedia), southern woodfern (Dryopteris ludoviciana) and marginal wood fern (Dryopteris marginalis).
The wood fern grows tall and can be grown in woodland and shade gardens.
Quick ID Hints:
- rachis and costa exhibit continuous grooves on their upper sides
- indusium is kidney-shaped
- sori are centrally located on the pinnae
- stipes have scales
.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:
- Juniper Level Botanic Garden: Sunken Pond Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Dryopteris affinis subsp. affinis
- Dryopteris kinkiensis
Asian Woodfern
Dryopteris ludoviciana
Golden Male Fern Dryopteris × australis
Dixie Wood Fern Dryopteris carthesiana
Shield Fern Dryopteris celsa
Log Fern Dryopteris cristata
Narrow Swamp Fern Dryopteris dilatata
Broad Wood Fern Dryopteris erythrosora
Autumn Fern Dryopteris filix-mas
Male Fern Dryopteris goldieana
Giant Wood Fern Dryopteris intermedia
Evergreen Wood Fern
Southern Wood-fern Dryopteris marginalis
Marginal Wood Fern Dryopteris sieboldii
Siebold's Wood Fern Dryopteris villarii
Rigid Buckler Fern Dryopteris wallichiana
Wallich's Wood Fern - Dryopteris kinkiensis
- Dryopteris affinis subsp. affinis, Dryopteris × australis, Dryopteris carthesiana, Dryopteris celsa, Dryopteris cristata, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris erythrosora, Dryopteris filix-mas, Dryopteris goldieana, Dryopteris intermedia, Dryopteris kinkiensis, Dryopteris ludoviciana, Dryopteris marginalis, Dryopteris sieboldii, Dryopteris villarii, Dryopteris wallichiana
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
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Dryopteris affinis subsp. affinis
- Dryopteris kinkiensis
Asian Woodfern
Dryopteris ludoviciana
Golden Male Fern Dryopteris × australis
Dixie Wood Fern Dryopteris carthesiana
Shield Fern Dryopteris celsa
Log Fern Dryopteris cristata
Narrow Swamp Fern Dryopteris dilatata
Broad Wood Fern Dryopteris erythrosora
Autumn Fern Dryopteris filix-mas
Male Fern Dryopteris goldieana
Giant Wood Fern Dryopteris intermedia
Evergreen Wood Fern
Southern Wood-fern Dryopteris marginalis
Marginal Wood Fern Dryopteris sieboldii
Siebold's Wood Fern Dryopteris villarii
Rigid Buckler Fern Dryopteris wallichiana
Wallich's Wood Fern - Dryopteris kinkiensis
- Dryopteris affinis subsp. affinis, Dryopteris × australis, Dryopteris carthesiana, Dryopteris celsa, Dryopteris cristata, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris erythrosora, Dryopteris filix-mas, Dryopteris goldieana, Dryopteris intermedia, Dryopteris kinkiensis, Dryopteris ludoviciana, Dryopteris marginalis, Dryopteris sieboldii, Dryopteris villarii, Dryopteris wallichiana
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Dryopteris
- Family:
- Polypodiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Cosmopolitan
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- heavy shade, deer
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Fern
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Dense
- Oval
- Spreading
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
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Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- No fruits. This plant reproduces via spores.
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Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- No flowers.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Fronds
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Fairy Garden
- Native Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Heavy Shade
