shaggy wood fern
Dryopteris cycadina
RHS AGM 1997
USDA zones5 to 8
SunHandles partial sun to full shade
WaterHandles moderate to moist soil
Size1.5 to 3 feet tall1.5 to 3 feet wide
- Bloom color
- Non-flowering
- Soil types
- Sand, loam, clay, chalk
- Soil pH
- Acid, alkaline, neutral
Garden uses
Notes
Shaggy wood fern (Dryopteris cycadina) is a fern for borders, containers, and low maintenance gardens. It is hardy to USDA zone 5, or down to -20°F (-29°C). This plant likes part sun to full shade and average to moist soil of most types. It grows 18 to 36 inches tall and wide, so give it room to spread. The fern does not flower, but its shaggy fronds add texture to shady spots. It sits low on the menu for rabbits.
Pairs well with Elegans hosta, Aureola Japanese forest grass, and Goldenseal.
Native range
Africa, Guinea, and Ivory Coast.