Dryopteris celsa

Common Names

Log Fern, Wood Fern

Summary

Dryopteris celsa, commonly called log fern, is a fertile allotetraploid native to the eastern United States and a natural hybrid between Dryopteris goldiana and Dryopteris ludoviciana. It forms upright clumps with large, glossy deep-green fronds 65–120 cm long and 15–30 cm wide, that are semi-evergreen and pinnate-pinnatifid, often growing on rotting logs in damp woods. Prefers moist, rich, humusy, acidic soils with good drainage, and thrives in dappled sun to deep shade with wind protection; the sporophyte tolerates drier microsites and spreads by short creeping rhizomes to form neat clumps. It is deer resistant, hardy in USDA zones 5–9, propagates by spores, and is suitable for shade gardens, massing, woodland borders, and native plantings, with erosion control benefits in damp sites.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

3-4 feet

Spread

18-30 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 5-9

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally partial shade to full shade.

Soil Type

There isn’t a single ideal soil type; Dryopteris celsa tolerates both acidic and basic soils and typically grows on well-drained microsites such as hummocks, decomposing logs, stumps, or other woody debris.

Soil Drainage

Well-drained

Soil pH

Slightly acidic to neutral pH.

Bloom Time

Does not bloom

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Moderate

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Propagation Methods

Spores, Division (via rhizomes)

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts none