Find a plant:

OR Browse All Plants


Genus Dryopteris (Buckler fern)

Dryopteris Dryopteris crassirhizoma Photo/Illustration: Jennifer Benner
dry-OP-ter-iss Common Name: Buckler fern
Feathery fronds produce shuttlecocks in most species with kidney-shaped clusters of sporangia.
 Noteworthy characteristics: Great ferny foliage with visible sori. A great foil for other plants. Many species are native to North America.
 Care: Grow in moist shade in a sheltered site. D. affinis and cultivars will tolerate more sun.
 Propagation: Sow spores at 59°F degrees when ripe. Divide plants in spring or autumn.
 Problems: Rust, leaf gall, and fungal spore can occur.

Species, varieties and cultivars for genus Dryopteris

Dryopteris × australis Dryopteris × australis
(Dixie wood fern) Be the first to rate this plant
Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

This dramatic fern diplays 4-foot-tall arching fronds that form impressive clumps with age. It is a hybrid of two native ferns and makes a wonderful groundcover.
Dryopteris celsa Dryopteris celsa
(Log fern) Be the first to rate this plant
Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

This fern is a tall plant with foliage that looks good all summer long. Upright deep-green fronds are semi-evergreen but topple over in fall. May reach 3 feet.
Dryopteris crassirhizoma Dryopteris crassirhizoma
(Wood fern) Be the first to rate this plant
Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

This is a handsome and lush, semi-evergreen vase-shaped fern with thickly textured leaves that is suitable for specimen treatment. It reaches 3.5 feet tall. Grow in a woodland or moist shade garden.
Dryopteris erythrosora Dryopteris erythrosora
(Autumn fern, Pink shield fern) Be the first to rate this plant
Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

In spring, autumn fern’s fronds unfurl a copper red, then turn to bronze, and finally become a shiny dark green. The fronds are upright and lend a lacy texture to the woodland garden. This fern is usually deciduous.
Dryopteris tokyoensis Dryopteris tokyoensis
(Tokyo wood fern) Be the first to rate this plant
Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Tokyo wood fern's ladderlike, upright fronds provide a strong vertical accent to its surroundings. The vase-shaped clumps grow to 18 to 36 inches tall. Grow in a woodland or shade garden.