Dryopteris ludoviciana

Southern Wood Fern | South Carolina Native

Light: Part Shade to Full Shade
Water: Moderate to High
Size: 2–4 ft. tall × 2–3 ft. wide
Type: Semi-evergreen perennial fern
Native Status: Native to South Carolina and the Southeastern U.S.
Wildlife/Garden Value: Deer resistant and well suited to native, woodland, rain, and shade gardens

A Lowcountry Native Made for the Shade

Southern Wood Fern (Dryopteris ludoviciana) is a stately native fern with glossy, leathery green fronds that form an upright, vase-shaped clump. Native to South Carolina's Coastal Plain, it naturally occurs in moist, shady habitats such as swamps and along stream banks.

Plant it in part shade to full shade where the soil stays moist. Its bold, upright form makes it a beautiful choice for woodland gardens, shady borders, rain gardens, or alongside ponds and streams. In protected areas with mild winters, the foliage can remain evergreen.

Good to Know: This is a South Carolina native fern that can reach up to 4 feet tall, making it a great choice when you want more height and structure in a shady planting.