Plant DetailShow Menu

Dryopteris is often confused with:
Polystichum Polystichum acrosticoides sori pattern
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Cyrtomium falcatum Cyrtomium falcatum
Viola canadensis Viola canadensis
Viola sororia Viola papilionacea

Shield Fern Dryopteris

Other Common Name(s):

Other plants called Shield Fern:

Phonetic Spelling
dry-OP-ter-iss
Description

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:
Dryopteris abbreviata, 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:
#fern#moist soil#deer resistant#herbaceous perennial#heavy shade tolerant#shade#shade tolerant
 
Dryopteris
Form (Warren County,NC) Cathy Dewitt CC BY 4.0
Dryopteris
Full form C T Johansson CC BY 3.0
Dryopteris
Stem and leaf MurielBendel CC BY-SA 4.0
Dryopteris
Leaf detail Walter Siegmund (talk) CC BY-SA 3.0
Leaf Blade
Leaf Blade James Lindsey CC BY-SA 2.5
Form
Form Zeynel Cebeci CC BY-SA 4.0
Leaves
Leaves Vengolis CC BY-SA 3.0
Dryopteris kinkiensis Fiddleheads (Wake County, NC), JLBG
Dryopteris kinkiensis Fiddleheads (Wake County, NC)- Mid Spring, JLBG Cathy DeWitt CC BY 4.0
Upper side of frond showing grooved rachis.
Grooved rachis and costa, typical of the genus, on upper side of the frond. David K Walmer CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Underside of frond showing sori and overlapping indusia.
Indusia and sori on the lower surface of the leaf. David K Walmer CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Cultivars / Varieties:
Dryopteris abbreviata, 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:
#fern#moist soil#deer resistant#herbaceous perennial#heavy shade tolerant#shade#shade tolerant
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Dryopteris
    Family:
    Polypodiaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Cosmopolitan
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    heavy shade, deer
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Fern
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Native Plant
    Habit/Form:
    Arching
    Dense
    Oval
    Spreading
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • 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
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Description:
    No fruits. This plant reproduces via spores.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Description:
    No flowers.
  • 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
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • 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