woodland fern
Crested wood fern
Dryopteris cristata
1 of 2Native to much of the USA and southern Canada
Newfoundland to Saskatchewan, south to North Carolina, Tennessee, northern Illinois, Iowa, North Dakota, northwestern Montana and northern Idaho
- Light Full sun to shade Sun tolerance
- Moisture Moist Moisture preference
- Zones 2–8 Cold to heat range
- Bloom Flowering time
- Height up to 3 ft to 0.9 m
- Life cycle Perennial Annual to perennial
In the garden
A woodland fern for sun through shade and evenly moist soil. At up to 3 ft, it suits shade gardens and woodland edges. Hardy in USDA zones 2–8.
Growing conditions
Light
Full sun Partial shade Full shade
Moisture
Dry Moist Wet
Hardiness zones
Find your zone:
Full plant details
Where it grows
- Habitat
- WoodlandThe wild plant community it grows in.
- Native range
- Much of the USA and southern CanadaUnited States (26): CT, DC, DE, IA, ID, IL, IN, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MT, NC, ND, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV. Canada (5): NB, NL, NS, ON, PE. Where it grows wild on its own, by state and province.
- Native distribution
- Newfoundland to Saskatchewan, south to North Carolina, Tennessee, northern Illinois, Iowa, North Dakota, northwestern Montana and northern IdahoThe same native range, usually more exact than the state list, and often noting where it has spread beyond it.
Growing conditions
- Light
- Full sun to shadeHow much sun it takes, from full sun to full shade.
- Moisture
- MoistThe soil dampness it prefers, from dry to wet.
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 2–8 · Canadian 2–7The cold-to-heat climate range it survives.
- Soil
- Mucky, moderately acid soilsThe soils it grows in naturally.
- Soil texture
- Light to heavy (sandy to clay)The soil grade it prefers, from sand to clay.
- Soil pH
- 3.5–6.5The acidity to alkalinity it tolerates (7 is neutral).
- Soil quality
- LowHow rich a soil it needs. Many natives prefer lean soil and flop in rich beds.
- Water use
- HighHow thirsty it is, a rough guide to how often to water.
- Salinity tolerance
- NoneHow well it copes with salty soil, near roads or the coast.
- Lime (CaCO₃) tolerance
- HighHow well it copes with chalky, lime-rich soil.
Growth & form
- Height
- up to 3 ft (to 0.9 m)Typical mature height.
- Spread
- ~1 ft (0.4 m)How wide one plant gets, a guide to spacing.
- Life cycle
- PerennialWhether it lives a single season (annual), two (biennial), or returns for years (perennial).
- Growth rate
- ModerateA relative ranking versus other plants of the same type (USDA), not an absolute rate.
- Shape
- ErectIts overall silhouette.
- Root depth
- 12+ in (30+ cm)How far the roots reach, a guide to drought resilience and transplanting.
Flowers, foliage & fruit
- Type
- FernWhat kind of plant it is.
- Flower color
- Not ApplicableThe bloom color, or colors.
- Toxicity
- None knownWhether any part is poisonous to people or pets.
Propagation & seed
- Cold stratification
- Not requiredWhether seed needs a cold, moist spell before it will germinate.
- Propagation
- SeedHow to start new plants.
- Seed spread rate
- SlowHow readily it self-sows. Slow or none means well-behaved, not a spreader.
- Seedling vigor
- MediumHow strongly young seedlings establish.
- Vegetative spread
- ModerateWhether it creeps outward or stays put in a clump.