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Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Dryopteris ludoviciana (Southern woodfern)
Cressler, Alan

Dryopteris ludoviciana

Dryopteris ludoviciana (Kunze) Small

Southern Woodfern, Florida Shieldfern

Dryopteridaceae (Wood Fern Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: DRLU

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

A good groundcover fern for Southeastern shade gardens with oppressively hot summers, high humidity, and heavy, saturated soils, this fern can grow to 4 feet high and as wide.

 

From the Image Gallery

8 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Fern
Size Notes: Fronds up to about 4 feet long.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Not Applicable
Bloom Notes: Not a flowering plant. Reproduces by spores.

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , FL , GA , LA , MS , NC , SC , TX
Native Distribution: Native to Zone 8
Native Habitat: Moist, humid woodlands of the Southeastern coastal plain

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium , High
Light Requirement: Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist , Wet
Soil pH: Acidic (pH<6.8)
Heat Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Heavy, wet soils
Conditions Comments: Thrives in the high heat of the Southeast, as long as moisture is adequate. Though native to Zone 8, is hardy from Zones 6 to 10.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Good groundcover foliage for shade in the hot Southeast
Interesting Foliage: yes

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:AGCPAKAWCBEMPGPHIMWNCNEWMVE
Status: FACW FACW
This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

NPSOT - Native Plant Society of Texas - Fredericksburg, TX
NPSOT - Austin Chapter - Austin, TX
Mt. Cuba Center - Hockessin, DE

Bibliography

Bibref 1620 - Gardening with Native Plants of the South (Reprint Edition) (2009) Wasowski, S. with A. Wasowski

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Dryopteris ludoviciana in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Dryopteris ludoviciana in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Dryopteris ludoviciana

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-02-07
Research By: DEW

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