Dryopteris intermedia
intermediate wood fern
Overview
Dryopteris intermedia is a clump-forming, evergreen fern in the Dryopteridaceae growing 1.5-2.5 feet (45-75 cm) tall and about as wide, forming a vase-shaped rosette of arching fronds. The lacy fronds are cut two to three times into small, toothed segments, giving a soft, feathery texture, and stay green through winter, lying down under snow and reviving in spring. New fronds, called fiddleheads, unfurl in spring from a central crown covered in pale brown scales. As a fern it has no flowers or seeds, reproducing instead by spores borne in small round clusters on the undersides of the leaflets. It grows slowly and spreads little, holding a tidy clump rather than running. The fern needs cool, moist, shaded conditions and declines in heat, drought, and direct sun, which can brown the fronds. Hardy in USDA zones 3-8, it grows in partial to full shade in moist, humus-rich, acidic soil. Native to eastern North America, Dryopteris intermedia grows in cool woods, rocky slopes, and ravines from Canada south through the Appalachian Mountains.
Native Range
Dryopteris intermedia is native to eastern North America, from eastern Canada south through New England and along the Appalachian Mountains to Georgia and west to the Great Lakes. It grows in cool, moist woodland, on shaded rocky slopes, and in ravines.Suggested Uses
Grown in woodland and shade gardens, along shaded foundations, and in native plantings, where the evergreen fronds hold through winter. The clumping habit suits the front of shaded borders and the edges of paths.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1'6" - 2'6"
Width/Spread1'6" - 2'6"
Bloom Information
As a fern, Dryopteris intermedia produces no flowers. Spores ripen in round clusters on the undersides of the fronds through summer. New fiddleheads unfurl in spring as the previous year fronds fade.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 1-4 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Dryopteris intermedia grows in partial to full shade and needs cool, moist, humus-rich, acidic soil with a pH of 4.5-6.5. It declines in heat, drought, and direct sun, which scorch the fronds. A mulch of leaf litter keeps the crown cool and holds moisture. The fern grows slowly into a tidy clump and needs no division to stay healthy. It rarely needs fertilizer in woodland soil. Old fronds can be left as winter cover and cleared in spring.Pruning
Cut away tattered or winter-damaged fronds in early spring before the new fiddleheads unfurl. No other pruning is needed. Leaving spent fronds over winter shelters the crown.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
early spring
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 3 gallons