Evergreen Wood Fern
Dryopteris intermedia
Last reviewed: August 2026
Dryopteris intermedia, the Evergreen Wood Fern, keeps its glossy green fronds through winter and thrives in part shade to shade with medium, well-drained soil in eastern woodland gardens.
Toxicity unknown
Evergreen Wood Fern (Dryopteris intermedia) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
part shade
Water
medium
Size
12"–24" H × 12"–24" W
Bloom
N/A
Native to
AL, CT, DE, GA and 23 more states
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaBrowse plants for this ecoregion
Evergreen wood fern forms neat, symmetrical clumps of deep green fronds that persist through winter. This shade-loving native fern creates attractive groundcover in woodland settings and shaded garden areas.
Growing Evergreen Wood Fern
Grow Evergreen Wood Fern in part shade and medium water. Mature plants reach 12 to 24 inches tall and spread 12 to 24 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Evergreen Wood Fern is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.
Works well in: front yard, foundation, mid zone.
Wildlife value
Provides shelter and nesting habitat for small wildlife and insects. The dense fronds offer year-round cover for ground-dwelling creatures.
Common questions
- Does Dryopteris intermedia produce flowers?
- No. As a fern, it reproduces by spores released from sori on the undersides of its fronds rather than by flowering.
- What light conditions does this fern prefer?
- It grows best in part shade but can tolerate anything from dappled part sun to fairly deep shade under a woodland canopy.
- How much water does the Evergreen Wood Fern need?
- It does best with medium, consistently moist soil, though established plants can handle drier spells once their root systems are settled.
- Why is it called the Evergreen Wood Fern?
- Its fronds stay green through the winter months in many of the woodland habitats where it grows, rather than dying back completely like some other ferns.
- Is Evergreen Wood Fern HOA-friendly?
- Evergreen Wood Fern is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Evergreen Wood Fern? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
Planning a bed around it? Start a free plan with this plant
Not sure where to start? Take the 2-minute yard quiz