Dryopteris ludoviciana (Southern Wood Fern)
Florida Wood Fern, Southern Wood Fern, Louisiana Wood Fern
Great for swampy or wet areas of the garden, Dryopteris ludoviciana (Southern Wood Fern) is a semi-evergreen fern with a short erect or creeping rhizome and masses of lance-shaped, shiny, dark green fronds tapering to the base with triangular lower pinnae (divisions of the leaf). Tough as nails, this is a wonderful Dryopteris species for the muddy margins of ponds and bogs. Long-lived, it also does well in the dense shade where few other plants will grow. An excellent ground cover for Southeastern shade gardens with hot summers, high humidity, and heavy, saturated soils. Evergreen in frost-free areas.
- Grows up to 2-4 ft. tall (60-120 cm) and 2-3 ft. wide (60-90 cm).
- A part shade to full shade lover, it is best grown in rich, acidic, medium to wet soils.
- Propagate by sowing spores as soon as ripe or by division in spring
- Native to the southern United States from Florida west to Texas and as far north as Kentucky and North Carolina.
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Requirements
Hardiness | 6
– 10 |
---|---|
Plant Type | Ferns |
Plant Family | Dryopteris - Ferns |
Exposure | Partial Sun, Shade |
Season of Interest |
Spring (Mid,Late) Summer (Early,Mid,Late) Fall |
Height | 2' – 4' (60cm – 120cm) |
Spread | 2' – 3' (60cm – 90cm) |
Spacing | 24" – 36" (60cm – 90cm) |
Water Needs | Average, High |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Moisture Retentive |
Characteristics | Showy, Semi-Evergreen |
Native Plants | United States, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Southwest, Texas |
Garden Uses | Beds and Borders, Bog Gardens, Ground Covers, Ponds and Streams |
Garden Styles | Prairie and Meadow |
By Erin Lindsay Munson, Shutterstock
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Requirements
Hardiness | 6
– 10 |
---|---|
Plant Type | Ferns |
Plant Family | Dryopteris - Ferns |
Exposure | Partial Sun, Shade |
Season of Interest |
Spring (Mid,Late) Summer (Early,Mid,Late) Fall |
Height | 2' – 4' (60cm – 120cm) |
Spread | 2' – 3' (60cm – 90cm) |
Spacing | 24" – 36" (60cm – 90cm) |
Water Needs | Average, High |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Moisture Retentive |
Characteristics | Showy, Semi-Evergreen |
Native Plants | United States, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Southwest, Texas |
Garden Uses | Beds and Borders, Bog Gardens, Ground Covers, Ponds and Streams |
Garden Styles | Prairie and Meadow |