Virginia Chain Fern Woodwardia virginica
Previously known as:
- Anchistea virginica
- Phonetic Spelling
- wood-WAR-dee-ah ver-JIN-ih-kah
- Description
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Woodwardia virginica, commonly known as Virginia Chain Fern, can be found naturally in where soils are moist, acidic, and contain a plentiful amount of organic matter. Environments such as bogs, wetlands, and occasionally flooded coastal plain ponds are sites that support the natural growth of this plant. It does best when planted in moist areas near bogs, streams, ponds, or water gardens. Plant in full sun to shade; sandy to humus-rich acidic soil. It is easy to grow and spreads rapidly.
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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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Woodwardia
- Species:
- virginica
- Family:
- Aspleniaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Primarily used for shelter.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North America
- Distribution:
- Eastern United States and Canada
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Heavy shade, Deer
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Fern
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- 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)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasional Flooding
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- No fruits. This plants reproduces via spores.
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Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- no flower.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Fronds
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Other/more complex
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Lustrous, dark green, leathery fronds in a close mass; broadest in middle; pinnate-pinnatifid; alternating pairs of closely spaced pinnae; short blunt lobes; pinnule are narrow, point upward, and taper at both ends; rachis is dark purple brown below. Fronds emerge coppery red in color.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Pond
- Riparian
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Shade Garden
- Water Garden
- Attracts:
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Heavy Shade
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Weedy
