Dryopteris cristata: Country Or Region Of Origin
Europe to Central Siberia, Canada to U.S.A
Plant Profile: Dryopteris cristata
Taxonomy: Dryopteris cristataNames
Crested Wood Fern, Narrow Swamp Fern
Phonetic Spelling:dry-OP-ter-iss chris-TAH-tah
Genus:Dryopteris
Species:cristata
Family:Polypodiaceae
This plant is simple to cultivate, characterized by a short, spreading rhizome. It typically thrives in marshy areas, bogs, and swamps, but can also flourish in moist, nutrient-rich soil, whether in sunlight or shade.
For additional details on Dryopteris, please refer to the provided resources.
Dryopteris cristata Feature Summary
Dryopteris cristata Image Gallery
Tags
#evergreen
#water garden
#easy to grow
#shade tolerant
#shade garden
#fern
#wetlands
#NC native
#deer resistant
#swamps
#bog gardens
#woodlands
#heavy shade tolerant
Similar Plants
Dryopteris cristata Feature Summary
Attributes
Europe to Central Siberia, Canada to U.S.A
Heavy shade, This plant is seldom damaged by deer.
Perennial
Fruit
No fruits. This plants reproduces via spores.
Flowers
No flowers.
Leaves
Blade is upright, narrowly oblong; pinnate-pinnatified; pinnae are narrowly triangular and broadest near the rachis; basal pinnae are about 1 in. long; stiffly erect fertile fronds with pinnae turned at right angles to the frond; shorter sterile fronds are arching and evergreen; not crested; long stipe with numerous, dull brown scales
Broadleaf Evergreen
Green
Brown/Copper
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Other/more complex
Crenate
> 6 inches
Leathery
> 6 inches
Whole Plant Traits
Native Plant
Fern
Broadleaf Evergreen
Erect
Creeping
Medium
Low
Medium
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
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)
Occasionally Wet
Frequent Standing Water
3 feet-6 feet
12 inches-3 feet
Mountains
Piedmont
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
3a
3b
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Stem
Landscape
Winter Garden
Rain Garden
Shade Garden
Mass Planting
Accent
Deer
Wet Soil
Heavy Shade
Woodland
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Riparian
Near Septic
Dryopteris cristata Image Gallery
Dryopteris cristata Attributes
Dryopteris cristata: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)
Heavy shade, This plant is seldom damaged by deer.
Dryopteris cristata: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Dryopteris cristata Fruit
Dryopteris cristata: Fruit Description
No fruits. This plants reproduces via spores.
Dryopteris cristata Flowers
Dryopteris cristata: Flower Description
No flowers.
Dryopteris cristata Leaves
Dryopteris cristata: Leaf Description
Blade is upright, narrowly oblong; pinnate-pinnatified; pinnae are narrowly triangular and broadest near the rachis; basal pinnae are about 1 in. long; stiffly erect fertile fronds with pinnae turned at right angles to the frond; shorter sterile fronds are arching and evergreen; not crested; long stipe with numerous, dull brown scales
Dryopteris cristata: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Dryopteris cristata: Leaf Color
Brown/Copper
Green
Dryopteris cristata: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Dryopteris cristata: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Dryopteris cristata: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Dryopteris cristata: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Dryopteris cristata: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Dryopteris cristata: Leaf Feel
Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy
Dryopteris cristata: Leaf Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy
Dryopteris cristata: Leaf Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Dryopteris cristata Whole Plant Traits
Dryopteris cristata: 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 cristata: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Dryopteris cristata: 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 cristata: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Dryopteris cristata: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Dryopteris cristata: Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Dryopteris cristata Cultural Conditions
Dryopteris cristata: 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 cristata: Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Dryopteris cristata: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Dryopteris cristata: 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 cristata: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Dryopteris cristata: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
3a
3b
4a
4b
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
Dryopteris cristata: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Dryopteris cristata Stem
Dryopteris cristata: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Dryopteris cristata Landscape
Dryopteris cristata: 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 cristata: 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 cristata: 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 cristata: 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
