Log fern is a semi-evergreen to evergreen fern in the polypody family (Polypodiaceae) native to central and eastern United States, including North Carolina, where it is found growing in moist woods and swamps. This species is a fertile allotetraploid that originated from the hybridization of two native ferns, Goldie’s woodfern ( D. goldiana ) and the southern woodfern ( D. ludoviciana ) . The species epithet is Latin for “noble” and reflects the original author’s high esteem for this plant. It prefers partial sun to shade in moist to wet soils with a slightly acidic to neutral pH but will also tolerate drier sites, such as decomposing logs. Propagate by division. This fern grows upright to 3 to 4 feet tall and will spread 2 to 3 feet wide, spreading by creeping rhizomes. The fronds of this fern are dark green, moderately divided and lanceolate in general outline. The fertile fronds have sori that are rounded and in rows. Ferns in this group hybridize with one another, making identification problematic in some cases. Use this fern in groups or borders of shade, woodland, native and winter gardens. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems : No significant problems. VIDEO Created by NC State Extension's Homegrown series featuring Mark Weathington , Director of JC Raulston Arboretum . More information on Dryopteris .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Wet
Available space
12 inches-3 feet; 3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
Rich, dark green color; blade is pinnate-pinnatified, oblong and has firm texture; long, slender pinna tips; rhizomes and stipe scales are black; stipe is one third the frond length
Flower detail
No flowers.
Fruit detail
No fruits. This plants reproduces via spores.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
North Central & Eastern U.S.A
Distribution
AL , AR , DC , DE , GA , IL , IN , KY , MD , MI , MO , NC , NJ , NY , PA , SC , TN , TX , VA , WV