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Dryopteris marginalis
Marginal Wood Fern, Marginal Shield Fern, Leatherwood Fern, Eastern Wood Fern

Photo by Chhe

Marginal Wood Fern is a smallish ( 1.5 – 2 foot high), well behaved, evergreen fern found in shady, rocky slopes in most of eastern U.S. In North Carolina, is is found in mountain counties and a few piedmont counties. It is clump-forming and non-colonizing, propagated by root crown division and by spores.The fiddleheads of Marginal Wood Fern arising in spring are golden brown and furry, expanding into handsome, leathery, deeply green, arching fronds. In the garden it plays very well with wildflowers and offers cover for small critters. Marginal Wood Fern can thrive in both moist/well drained and somewhat dry locations that are shady or semi-shady. The common name of Marginal Wood Fern refers to the location of the sori or spore-containing structures on the very margins of the underside of the fronds.

Last Updated: May 21, 2019

Key Info

Scientific Name: Dryopteris marginalis (L.) Gray
Common Names: Marginal Wood Fern, Marginal Shield Fern, Leatherwood Fern, Eastern Wood Fern
Family Name: Dryopteridaceae (Wood Fern Family)
Plant Type: Fern, Groundcover
Uses: Groundcover - Evergreen, Woodland Garden, Specimen, Shady perennial border, Mixes well with wildflowers., Container
Light Requirement: Dappled sun, Full shade-bright
Moisture Requirement: Medium, Moist well drained
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Bloom Times: n/a
Flower Color: n/a
Special Characteristics: Reported to be deer resistant, Tolerates shade, Evergreen, Tolerates dry conditions, Tolerates cold

Additional Info

Habit: The vase-shaped clump grows from rhizome tissue which may protrude a few inches from the soil, and from which rnon-colonizing roots extend radially. Often, the dead leaves will accumulate beneath the plant.
Height: 2' - 2.5'
Spread: 1.5 - 2'
Growth Rate: Moderate
Soil Conditions: Prefers moist, rich, humusy, acidic soils.
Leaves: The leaves or fronds are leathery, grayish-green, deeply cut, 15-25" wide x 10" wide, evergreen, and pinnately compound into leaflets and again into lobed subleaflets. The points of the leaflets are gracefully curved towards the tip of the leaf. The stipe, which is scaley, is ~1/4 the length of the frond.
Flowers (or reproductive structures): Marginal Wood Fern reproduces by spores. The sori are located at the edges or margins of the lobed subleaflets (undersides); hence the common name.
Fruit: reproduces via spores
Natural Distribution: Moist woods, crevices in rocky ledges and ravines.
USDA Hardiness Zone: 3 to 8
USDA Wetland Indicator Status in NC: FACU
Pollination: n/a
Wildlife Connections: Tolerates rabbits, provides cover for toads and lizards and slalmanders and other small critters.
Downside: Fern foliage is susceptible to wind damage and should be sited accordingly.
Propagation: By division or from spores.
USDA/NRCS Plant Distribution Map: View Map at USDA.gov
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Who we are

Cure Nursery is a small nursery propagating and selling native plants for the Southeastern U.S. We are located near the town of Pittsboro, Chatham County, in central NC.

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Cure Nursery operates by appointment only. Call us or email us to place an order for pick up or to arrange a time to come visit the nursery.

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