Intermediate Wood Fern
Dryopteris intermedia
Also known as Evergreen Wood Fern, Evergreen Shield Fern, Fancy Wood Fern
Climate Match for your location
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Intermediate wood fern is a semi-evergreen woodland fern with delicate, finely divided fronds that creates a soft texture in shaded garden areas. It thrives in moist, acidic soil and makes an excellent groundcover or accent plant in shade gardens.
Why grow it
Intermediate wood fern occupies a middle ground between more delicate ferns and coarser woodland species, offering finer texture than Christmas fern while maintaining better moisture tolerance than some drier-site alternatives. Its semi-evergreen habit provides winter structure in shade gardens where many deciduous ferns disappear, making it useful for year-round underplanting in woodland settings or shaded borders.
Watch out for
This fern performs best in consistently moist soil and may decline or develop brown frond tips in drier conditions, particularly if summer drought occurs. While it tolerates a range of shade levels, growth is noticeably slower in deep shade than in dappled light, so site selection affects establishment speed.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Dryopteridaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Intermediate wood fern is a semi-evergreen woodland fern with delicate, finely divided fronds that creates a soft texture in shaded garden areas. It thrives in moist, acidic soil and makes an excellent groundcover or accent plant in shade gardens.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Intermediate Wood Fern grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Intermediate wood fern occupies a middle ground between more delicate ferns and coarser woodland species, offering finer texture than Christmas fern while maintaining better moisture tolerance than some drier-site alternatives. Its semi-evergreen habit provides winter structure in shade gardens where many deciduous ferns disappear, making it useful for year-round underplanting in woodland settings or shaded borders.
Watch out for
This fern performs best in consistently moist soil and may decline or develop brown frond tips in drier conditions, particularly if summer drought occurs. While it tolerates a range of shade levels, growth is noticeably slower in deep shade than in dappled light, so site selection affects establishment speed.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Dryopteridaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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