• Photo of Dryopteris carthusiana (Dryopteris carthusianas)

Plant Profile: Dryopteris carthusiana

Taxonomy: Dryopteris carthusiana

Names

Shield Fern, Spinulose Wood Fern, Toothed Wood Fern, Wood Fern

  • Photo of Dryopteris carthusiana (Dryopteris carthusianas)

Phonetic Spelling:dry-OP-ter-iss kar-thoo-see-AY-nuh

Genus:Dryopteris

Species:carthusiana

Family:Polypodiacea

This indigenous fern thrives effortlessly in its natural habitat, which includes swamps and damp woodlands, preferring either full or partial shade.

It can be propagated through division or by collecting spores. When the spore receptacles on the underside of the frond darken and the membranes open, they will release a fine, black powder, indicating that the fronds are now fertile. To dry the spores, place them in an envelope and keep them near a light bulb for a few days to eliminate any moisture. Afterward, sift out any debris and store the spores in a cool, dry place.

In terms of pests and diseases, this plant is generally resistant and faces few issues.

For additional details on Dryopteris, please refer to further resources.

Dryopteris carthusiana Feature Summary

Dryopteris carthusiana Image Gallery

Tags

#deciduous
#easy to grow
#shade tolerant
#shade garden
#fern
#rabbit resistant
#wet sites
#NC native
#deer resistant
#native fern
#native
#woodlands
#heavy shade tolerant

Similar Plants

Dryopteris carthusiana is often confused with:

Dryopteris carthusiana Feature Summary

Attributes
Temp. Northern Hemisphere
Heavy shade, This plant is seldom damaged by deer or rabbits.
Perennial
Fruit
No fruits. This plants reproduces via spores.
Flowers
Leaves
Erect, vase-shaped clump of glossy, dissected arching fronds; rhizome and stipe are light brown; blade is narrowly oval to triangular and bipinnate pinnatifid; has lower pairs of triangular pinnae; taper towards the tip; fronds turn yellow in fall; no glandular hair on blade.
Green
Brown/Copper
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Other/more complex
Whole Plant Traits
Herbaceous Perennial
Native Plant
Fern
Erect
Clumping
Cultural Conditions
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Acid (<6.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasionally Wet
Mountains
Piedmont
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
2a
2b
3a
3b
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Landscape
Shade Garden
Border
Mass Planting
Accent
Deer
Wet Soil
Rabbits
Heavy Shade
Woodland
Naturalized Area
Small Space
Near Septic

Dryopteris carthusiana Attributes

Dryopteris carthusiana: Country Or Region Of Origin

Temp. Northern Hemisphere

Dryopteris carthusiana: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)

Heavy shade, This plant is seldom damaged by deer or rabbits.

Dryopteris carthusiana: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Dryopteris carthusiana: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Dryopteris carthusiana Fruit

Dryopteris carthusiana: Fruit Description

No fruits. This plants reproduces via spores.

Dryopteris carthusiana Flowers

Dryopteris carthusiana: Flower Description

No flowers.

Dryopteris carthusiana Leaves

Dryopteris carthusiana: Leaf Description

Erect, vase-shaped clump of glossy, dissected arching fronds; rhizome and stipe are light brown; blade is narrowly oval to triangular and bipinnate pinnatifid; has lower pairs of triangular pinnae; taper towards the tip; fronds turn yellow in fall; no glandular hair on blade.

Dryopteris carthusiana: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Dryopteris carthusiana: Leaf Color

spa
Brown/Copper
spa
Green

Dryopteris carthusiana: Deciduous Leaf Fall Color

spa
Gold/Yellow

Dryopteris carthusiana: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Dryopteris carthusiana: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Dryopteris carthusiana: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Dryopteris carthusiana: Leaf Feel

Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy

Dryopteris carthusiana: Leaf Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy

Dryopteris carthusiana Whole Plant Traits

Dryopteris carthusiana: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Dryopteris carthusiana: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Dryopteris carthusiana: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Dryopteris carthusiana: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Dryopteris carthusiana: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Dryopteris carthusiana: Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Dryopteris carthusiana Cultural Conditions

Dryopteris carthusiana: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Dryopteris carthusiana: Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Dryopteris carthusiana: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Dryopteris carthusiana: Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Dryopteris carthusiana: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Dryopteris carthusiana: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
2a
thermostat
2b
thermostat
3a
thermostat
3b
thermostat
4a
thermostat
4b
thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b

Dryopteris carthusiana: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Dryopteris carthusiana Stem

Dryopteris carthusiana: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Dryopteris carthusiana Landscape

Dryopteris carthusiana: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Dryopteris carthusiana: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Dryopteris carthusiana: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Dryopteris carthusiana: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland