Dixie Wood Fern

It took quite a while to identify this fern, which I purchased from the clearance table a WalMart (it was just about dead). With help of...Read More the owner of Fern Ridge Farms, Canton, GA, I discovered I had purchased a Dryoteris x australis (sterile). It is quite a large, striking fern which has been a great addition to my garden. G

I love this plant! I picked it up this spring while still in fiddlehead stage for $5 from Home Depot (of all places--my expections were...Read More modest) and have been totally delighted. I planted it at the rear of our property near the top of a slope together with Heuchera 'Chocolate Veil' in a wooded area visible from the living room whenever we look at the bird feeders closer in. In no time, it shot up several fronds 4' tall which are graceful in appearance and breath-taking as it catches the dappled afternoon sunlight. Just captivating. Quoting John T. Mickel in "Ferns for American Gardens": " Dyopteris x australis is one of the great ferns for the garden. It is 4 feet to 5 feet tall, fairly slender, and a lustrous dark green...This sterile hybrid is found in scattered populations from Louisiana to Virginia, but is fully hardy and a strong grower in New York". I plan to put more of these in--it's just so lovely.

Beautiful fern here in zone 5. Dies back in fall.

This fern has done very well for me where I live in central KY. In fact, it adapted more readily and grew quicker than any other fern I h...Read Moreave planted. It does well with very little attention.

A VERY upright fern.
Evergreen to Zone 7.
Semi-evergreen in rest of range.
Moist soil will give best results but IS ...Read Moredrought tolerant when established.