Dryopteris intermedia (Intermediate Wood Fern)

Making a dramatic statement in the landscape, Dryopteris intermedia (Intermediate Wood Fern) is a vase shaped, evergreen to semi-evergreen fern with large, lacy, upright arching fronds. Oval to narrowly triangular, the glossy dark green fronds are bipinnate-pinnatifid to tripinnate. Each finely dissected blade has 10-15 pairs of narrow lance-shaped pinnae (leaflets). The stipe is covered with light brown scales. Round sori (fruit dots) appear on the leaflet undersides on fertile fronds in early to mid-summer. Native to eastern North America, Intermediate Wood Fern occurs naturally in moist woodland areas, ravines, swamp margins and rocky slopes. A great asset for shaded woodland gardens, it can also be used as an accent plant or in a mass planting.

• Grows up to 1-3 ft. tall and wide (30-90 cm).
• A part shade to full shade lover, it is best grown in fertile, humus-rich, consistently moist, well-drained soils. Will grow in rocky soil if moisture requirements are met.
• This plant is a great choice for shady beds and borders, rock gardens, cottage gardens, woodland gardens or containers.
• No serious pest or disease problems.
• Remove faded fronds regularly and divide plants when crowded.
• Propagate by division in spring
• Native to eastern North America.