Dixie Wood Fern

The beautiful glossy fronds of the Dixie Wood Fern make this native species a great garden choice. Although found naturally further south, it is quite hardy through zone 5, and makes a terrific larger fern, growing 4 to 5 feet tall. It makes a bold clump of deeply-divided fronds that are usually semi-evergreen, with most of the fronds staying green through winter, except in cold zones. The fronds are dark green, upright, and slender, with narrow leaflets, all giving it a lighter, airy look, despite its size. A perfect fern for larger spaces, and in natural plantings, it is more tolerant of wet soils, growing even in boggy ground. Use it along streams, lake-shores, and around ponds, or in wooded parts of your garden, beneath deciduous trees.

• Beautiful glossy fronds 4 to 5 feet tall
• Fronds are narrow, with fine leaflets, giving it an airy look
• A great choice for wet spots, with good tolerance of swampy places
• Semi-evergreen, but deciduous in cold zones
• A native plant, ideal for natural and ecological plantings

Grow the Dixie Wood Fern in the dappled shade beneath deciduous trees, in areas with some morning sun, or in full shade. It grows best in rich soils that are also moist, and tolerates poor drainage and even swampy conditions. Avoid dry places, as it has low drought tolerance. It isn’t bothered by deer or rabbits, and won’t have any pest or disease problems. In natural places it doesn’t need any attention once established, but in garden settings you might want to remove dead fronds in late fall or early spring, as needed.