Dixie woodfern is a deciduous herbaceous perennial in the polypody family (Polypodiaceae). It occurs uncommonly throughout the Southeast, including North Carolina. It is believed to be a natural hybrid between the log fern ( D. celsa ) and the southern woodfern ( D. ludoviciana ) , but some botanists treat this fern as a species (as Dryopteris australis ). It tolerates dry summers under the canopy of forests and wet sites of swampier areas. It performs best in part to full shade and moist rich humus soil with good drainage. This clump-forming fern is attractive with arching fronds and short rhizomes. This fern can grow up to 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide. Use in a shady woodland, along streams or ponds, in a rain garden or a native plant garden. VIDEO Created by NC State Extension's Homegrown series featuring Mark Weathington , Director of JC Raulston Arboretum . More information on Dryopteris .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry | Occasionally Wet
Available space
12 inches-3 feet; 3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal
Mature size
Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Slender, lustrous, dark green fronds. The fertile terminal quarter of the frond has smaller segments and does not produce viable spores. Bipinnate with alternating bright green leaflets grow 4-5' tall.
Fall color
Brown/Copper
Flower detail
No flowers.
Fruit detail
No fruits. This plants reproduces via spores.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
SE USA
Distribution
Virginia south to Louisiana.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Naturalized Area; Near Septic; Pond; Riparian; Woodland