Japanese shield fern is a small, semi-evergreen herbaceous perennial in the polypody family (Polypodiaceae). It is native to eastern Asia. The species epithet, meaning “red sori [the sporangia clusters],” calls attention to the bright red indusium of this species. This fern likes acidic, constantly moist soils that are high in organic matter. Once fully established, the fern can tolerate brief droughts. It can take dappled sun to deep shade. Protect plants from drying winds. Japanese shield fern forms an arching vase-shaped clump reaching a mature size of 2 feet tall and up to 3 feet wide. Plants will spread slowly over time through underground creeping rhizomes. The fronds of this fern emerge coppery pink and turn green as they mature. It is a low-maintenance fern that withstands full shade and is resistant to browsing by rabbits. This fern can be a container plant inside or on a patio and can be grown in woodland and shade gardens. It can be an accent, groundcover or mass planting. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This species may naturalize in NC as it has in other states and may become a problematic invasive species. 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)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet; 3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Young fronds are glossy, coppery pink; mature fronds are deep, glossy green; fronds are broad, triangular and bipinnate; segments have curved teeth; small scales on undersurface of midvein and pinna rachises; remains erect in winter; bright red indusia covering young sori.