Southern Wood Fern

Thelypteris kunthii a/k/a Dryopteris normalis also known as Thelypteris kunthii

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 6a-9b Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Semi-Evergreen to Evergreen Perennial

Height at Maturity: 36″

Width at Maturity: 36″+
Spacing: 24-30″ for mass plantings

Growth Habit / Form: Arching, Clumping, Upright, Spreading

Growth Rate: Moderate

Flower Color: None

Flower Size: NA

Flowering Period: NA

Flower Type: NA

Fragrant Flowers: NA

Foliage Color: Green

Fragrant Foliage: No

Berries: No

Berry Color: NA

Sun Needs: Full Shade or Part Shade, Morning Sun With Afternoon Shade

Water Needs: Average

Soil Type: Clay (amended), Loam, Sand (amended), Silt

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Moist to Well Drained Moist

Soil pH: 6.5 – 7.5 (Slightly Acid to Slightly Alkaline)

Maintenance / Care: Low

Attracts: Visual Attention

Resistances: Deer, Disease, Drought, Heat, Humidity, Insect, Moist Soil, Rabbit, Shade

Description

Not to be confused with the Southern Shield Fern (Dryopteris ludoviciana), the Southern Wood Fern, Dryopteris normalis also known as Thelypteris kunthii, is a beautiful, deciduous terrestrial fern forming dense patches of arching, light green fronds with alternating leaflets to 3 feet tall. It is one of the best ferns for the South and tolerates more sun than other ferns. We’ve even grown in it full sun in sites where the soil stays consistently moist. This native American fern naturalizes well in woodland gardens among the trees and other native plants, but also provides wonderful, soft texture in shady to partly shaded landscape borders and home foundation plantings.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing up to 3 feet tall and spreading 3 feet or more, the Southern Wood Fern is a wonderful, elegant plant ideal for use in groupings and mass plantings in shady to partially sunny woodland gardens and home foundation plantings. That said, we’ve grown the Southern Wopod Fern successfully in almost full sun in sites with consistently moist to wet soil.

Growing Preferences

The Southern Wood Fern is easy to grow in a variety of moist but well-drained soils in part shade to full shade. It prefers a consistently moist soil rich in organic matter however tolerates a dry soil. The plant will go dormant if not irrigated during prolonged drought, and survives for up to 9 months under these dry conditions. Very nice in pots, planters and other containers.

Helpful Articles

Click on a link below to find advice from our experts on how to plant, fertilize, prune and water perennial ferns.

How To Plant Perennial Ferns

How To Prune Or Cut Back Perennial fern Plants

How To Fertilize & Water Perennial Fern Plants

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