wood fern
Dryopteris cycadina
Overview
The Wood Fern (Dryopteris cycadina) is an amazing plant species due to its attractive, evergreen foliage and its ability to thrive in a variety of soils. Its fronds are dark green in color and have unique, lacy patterns. It forms an attractive, medium sized clump and prefers partial to full shade. This species of fern is incredibly durable and tolerant of a variety of climates and soils, making it an ideal addition to the home garden. With minimal care, it will provide lush, vibrant texture for years to come. Its beauty and hardiness make it an excellent choice for a low-maintenance, shade garden.
Care Guide
Watering
Wood Ferns should be watered once a week when the soil is dry to the touch. A good amount of water is approximately 1 inch deep. The best way to water is to set the container in a pan of water and wait until the soil is saturated. Then, carefully pour off any excess water. If your wood fern is planted outdoors, it will require slightly less water, however it is important to keep it consistently moist. Tracking rainfall can be helpful. Avoid overwatering as this can cause root rot.
Light
Wood fern (Dryopteris cycadina) needs at least 4-6 hours of sunlight a day during the growing season. In areas where summers are cold and long, it is best to give the fern some shade in the afternoon to protect it from the hot sun. If you are growing your wood fern in a shady area, you may be able to increase the sunlight to 6-8 hours a day. This species of fern grows best in bright, indirect sunlight. In other words, the sun should never be able to shine directly on the fronds. If you are growing this fern indoors, make sure it is placed near a window that has sheer curtains to filter out the direct rays of the sun. During the winter months, you may reduce the amount of sunlight it gets to 2-4 hours a day.
Soil
Humus rich, Well-drained
Temperature
Hardiness zone 5–8.
Pruning
Wood fern (Dryopteris cycadina) should be pruned twice a year, once in the spring and once in the late fall. In the spring pruning, remove any dead fronds or fronds that are damaged in some way. This will help the plant save energy and prevent it from putting energy into damaged fronds. For the late fall pruning, cut back any of the fronds that have become too long or too wide for the plant. This will help to maintain the desired shape and size of the Wood fern. In both cases, don’t cut back more than 1 third of the plant at 1 time, as this can put it under stress. Be sure to use sharp, clean shears when pruning.
Propagation
Spore Propagation
Diseases & Pests
Common pests: Rust.
Related plants
Other plants you might like if you grow wood fern.
