Family
Dryopteridaceae
Botanical Name
Dryopteris cristata
Plant Common Name
Crested Wood Fern
General Description
Crested wood fern is a semi-evergreen, clump-forming perennial that flourishes in moist, swampy ground as well as moist upland soils. This woodland fern is distinguished by its upright fronds with sparsely spaced pinnae, or leaflets, which are held at a tilt along the leaf stem. It has a very broad natural distribution. Native populations can be found across the whole of the northern hemisphere from North America to Europe, Russia and other parts of northern Asia.
DDespite the epithet “cristata”, this fern does not have crested foliage. The upright, green to blue-green fronds are supported by a stem, or stipe, that’s grooved and swollen and covered with brown scales at the base. Each frond comprises numerous lance-shaped leaflets, or pinnae, which are themselves divided into rounded segments called pinnules. Ferns with pinnae and pinnules are considered bipinnate. The foliage rises from a massive dense rhizome (spreading underground stem) lined with old stipes. In summer, its fertile fronds develop brown, kidney-shaped, spore-bearing “sori” that dot the undersides of the leaves in irregular rows along the pinnae. The fertile fronds are deciduous in winter while the shorter, sterile fronds form a clump that remains evergreen all winter.
Grow crested wood fern in partial to full shade exposures in fertile, organic rich soil that moist. It thrives in mucky, saturated soil and is quite intolerant of dry conditions and may even go dormant if subjected to drought stress. This pretty woodland fern naturalizes over time. It looks most handsome when massed as a groundcover or dotted among other shade and moisture loving perennials. Its new fronds are brittle and should be planted where they won’t be damaged by negligent feet.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
7 - 1
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USDA Hardiness Zone
2 - 7
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Plant Type
Fern
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Sun Exposure
Partial Shade, Full Shade
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Height
10"-24" / 25.4cm - 61.0cm
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Width
1'-2' / 0.3m - 0.6m
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Native To
North America, United States, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, North-Central United States, Northwestern United States, Canada, Europe, Northern Europe, United Kingdom, Russia/Siberia
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
None
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Winter)
Dark Green
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Fragrant Flowers
No
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
No
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
Yes
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Foliage Texture
Fine
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Foliage Sheen
Matte
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Evergreen
Semi-Evergreen
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Showy Bark
No
