Eastern Woodfern

Dryopteris marginalis

Eastern Woodfern has an upright, vase-shaped form that brings vertical structure to shaded garden beds. unlike the arching habit of many ferns, Dryopteris marginalis holds its fronds at a more upright angle that gives the whole plant a composed, elegant quality. The leathery, blue-green fronds are semi-evergreen to evergreen in most Mid-Atlantic climates, holding color through mild winters before fresh new fronds emerge in spring. It's at home on rocky slopes, along shaded walls, and in the well-drained, dry-to-average shade conditions that challenge more moisture-demanding ferns. The deep blue-green foliage color is among the most intense of any native fern. particularly striking against lighter-colored stone or the pale bark of birch trees. Sori (spore clusters) are positioned on the margins of the frond leaflets. hence the species name marginalis. creating a precise, polka-dotted pattern on the underside of the fronds that rewards a close look. Slow-growing but long-lived and essentially carefree once established in the right site.