Southern Wood Fern
Dryopteris ludoviciana
Southern Wood Fern is a perennial for groundcover, mid-border, suited to shade and partial shade and clay, loam, sandy soil, acid soil or moist ground, flowering varies by climate.
| Type | Perennial |
|---|---|
| Mature height | 90 cm |
| Spread | 90 cm |
| Aspect | shade and partial shade |
| Foliage | Evergreen |
| Hardiness | USDA 6a-10b, RHS H6 |
| Pollinator-friendly | No |
| Pet-safe | Yes |
Where to use it in a border
At around 90 cm, it sits best along the front edge, where a low, spreading habit reads best. Give it about 90 cm of room to spread. It is hardy across USDA zones 6a to 10b and rated H6 by the RHS, so check it suits your area before planting.
It appears in our lists of shade, clay soil, sandy soil, acid soil, wet soil, evergreen plants.
Border Builder uses Southern Wood Fern's height, spread, soil, bloom months and companions to place it in a full border plan for your own conditions, on iPhone and iPad.
Flowering through the year
Worth knowing
- Evergreen, so it keeps the border furnished through winter.
- It tolerates acid soil but dislikes shallow chalk.
- It tolerates a shaded, north-facing spot.
Good companions
Plants that share its conditions and style, chosen to complement its place in the border:
- Creeping Oregon Grapeto edge in front
- Allegheny Spurgeto edge in front
- Alumroot 'Palace Purple'to edge in front
- Appalachian Sedgeto edge in front
- Astilbe 'Visions'to edge in front
- Aucuba 'Gold Dust'for height behind it
Garden styles
Foundation planting Shade cottage Woodland Xeriscape (low-water)