Crested woodfern is a native evergreen to semi-evergreen perennial in the polypody family (Polypodiaceae) native to Canada, the United States, Asia and Europe, including the cool regions of North Carolina. It can be found growing in moist to wet sites of woods and swampy areas. The species epithet is from the Latin meaning "crested," which the fertile fronds resemble in profile. The fern grows in clumps with narrow fronds. Crested woodfern prefers moist to wet, fertile, acidic soils in shade to partial sun. It will spread over time by creeping rhizomes. Propagation is by spores or division. The dark green fertile fronds grow upright and die back in winter, while the sterile fronds are arching and evergreen. The indusia and sori are round to kidney-shaped and brown and occur on the undersides of the fertile fronds. Use crested wood fern in the shade, rain, native or winter gardens, along streams and ponds, in groups or borders. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious pests or diseases. 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
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Frequent Standing Water | Occasionally Wet
Available space
12 inches-3 feet; 3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
The once compound fronds are up to 30 inches long and 5 inches wide, narrowly lanceolate to oblong and tapering at the tips. The upper leaflets have 6 or more lobes with bristly-tipped teeth and are rotated and held parallel to the ground on fertile fronds, while the lower leaflets are triangular and larger. These two features make it easy to identify. The larger upright fertile fronds die in winter, while the arching sterile fronds are evergreen.
Flower detail
No flowers.
Fruit detail
No fruits. This plant reproduces via spores. Spores are kidney-shaped and brown in uneven rows on the undersides of fertile fronds.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
The green stem has scattered tan scales, especially near the base.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Europe to Central Siberia, Canada to U.S.A
Distribution
AL , CT , DC , DE , GA , IA , ID , IL , IN , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MT , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NY , OH , PA , RI , TN , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV Canada: NB , NL , NS , ON , PE
Food & Medicine
Uses (ethnobotany)
The plant has been used medicinally.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Meadow; Naturalized Area; Near Septic; Riparian; Woodland