• Photo of Dryopteris wallichiana (Dryopteris wallichianas)

Plant Profile: Dryopteris wallichiana

Taxonomy: Dryopteris wallichiana

Names

Wallich's Wood Fern

  • Photo of Dryopteris wallichiana (Dryopteris wallichianas)

Phonetic Spelling:dry-OP-ter-iss wal-ik-ee-AY-nah

Genus:Dryopteris

Species:wallichiana

Family:Polypodiaceae

Wallich's Wood Fern is a semi-evergreen to deciduous fern that originates from Hawaii, Mexico, and Jamaica. It can reach heights of up to 4 feet, forming a vase-like shape around a central crown. The light green fronds beautifully contrast with the dark brown, scaly ribs. To prevent overcrowding, it is advisable to divide the plant every few years.

This fern thrives in moist, well-drained soil and prefers partial to full shade. Once established, it demonstrates a commendable tolerance to drought. Applying mulch can aid in moisture retention. It is an excellent choice for borders, as ground cover in shady areas, or beneath shrubs.

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

Dryopteris wallichiana Feature Summary

Dryopteris wallichiana Image Gallery

Tags

#deciduous
#semi-evergreen
#shade tolerant
#shade garden
#fern
#mass planting
#deer resistant
#partial shade tolerant
#woodlands

Similar Plants

Dryopteris wallichiana is often confused with:

Dryopteris wallichiana Feature Summary

Attributes
Himalayas, Hawaii, Mexico and Jamaica
Heavy shade, This plant is seldom damaged by deer.
Perennial
Fruit
No fruits. This plants reproduces via spores.
Flowers
Leaves
Blade is pinnate-pinnatified and oblong-lance shaped, leathery, lustrous and dark green; segments are oblong and squarish at tip; stipe is one fourth or less of the frond length; densely clothed with reddish black scales.
Deciduous
Semi-evergreen
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Other/more complex
> 6 inches
Showy
Long-lasting
> 6 inches
Stem
Hair-like scaly brown stems unfurl to produce the leaves
Whole Plant Traits
Deciduous
Semi-evergreen
Arching
Clumping
Vase
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
3 feet-6 feet
12 inches-3 feet
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Landscape
Cottage Garden
Shade Garden
Border
Mass Planting
Accent
Small groups
Woodland
Naturalized Area
Small Space

Dryopteris wallichiana Attributes

Dryopteris wallichiana: Country Or Region Of Origin

Himalayas, Hawaii, Mexico and Jamaica

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

Heavy shade, This plant is seldom damaged by deer.

Dryopteris wallichiana: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Dryopteris wallichiana Fruit

Dryopteris wallichiana: Fruit Description

No fruits. This plants reproduces via spores.

Dryopteris wallichiana Flowers

Dryopteris wallichiana: Flower Description

No flowers.

Dryopteris wallichiana Leaves

Dryopteris wallichiana: Leaf Description

Blade is pinnate-pinnatified and oblong-lance shaped, leathery, lustrous and dark green; segments are oblong and squarish at tip; stipe is one fourth or less of the frond length; densely clothed with reddish black scales.

Dryopteris wallichiana: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Dryopteris wallichiana: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Dryopteris wallichiana: Leaf Type

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

Dryopteris wallichiana: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Dryopteris wallichiana: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Dryopteris wallichiana: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Dryopteris wallichiana: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Dryopteris wallichiana: Leaf Feel

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

Dryopteris wallichiana: Leaf Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy

Dryopteris wallichiana: Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Dryopteris wallichiana Stem

Dryopteris wallichiana: Stem Description

Hair-like scaly brown stems unfurl to produce the leaves

Dryopteris wallichiana: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Dryopteris wallichiana Whole Plant Traits

Dryopteris wallichiana: 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 wallichiana: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Dryopteris wallichiana: 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 wallichiana: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Dryopteris wallichiana: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Dryopteris wallichiana: Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Dryopteris wallichiana Cultural Conditions

Dryopteris wallichiana: 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 wallichiana: Soil pH

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

Dryopteris wallichiana: Soil Drainage

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

Dryopteris wallichiana: 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 wallichiana: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Dryopteris wallichiana: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b
thermostat
9a
thermostat
9b

Dryopteris wallichiana: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Dryopteris wallichiana Landscape

Dryopteris wallichiana: 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 wallichiana: 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 wallichiana: 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 wallichiana: 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