Southern Woodfern
Dryopteris ludoviciana
Last reviewed: August 2026
Dryopteris ludoviciana, the Southern Woodfern, is a semi-evergreen fern that grows well in part shade with medium to consistently moist soil, often found in swampy woodlands and floodplain forests across the southeastern United States.
Toxicity unknown
Southern Woodfern (Dryopteris ludoviciana) 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"–36" H × 12"–36" W
Bloom
N/A
Native to
AL, AR, FL, GA and 6 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
Southern woodfern is an attractive evergreen fern that forms neat clumps of arching, deeply divided fronds. It thrives in partial shade and provides year-round structure to shaded garden areas with its graceful, lacy appearance.
Growing Southern Woodfern
Grow Southern Woodfern in part shade and medium water. Mature plants reach 12 to 36 inches tall and spread 12 to 36 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Southern Woodfern is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.
Works well in: front yard, foundation, mid zone.
Wildlife value
This fern provides shelter and nesting material for small wildlife and birds. While it doesn't attract pollinators directly, it supports the ecosystem by offering habitat for beneficial insects.
Common questions
- Does Southern Woodfern produce flowers or blooms?
- No. Like all ferns, Dryopteris ludoviciana does not flower. It reproduces using spores that form on the underside of its fronds rather than through blooms.
- What light and moisture conditions does Southern Woodfern need?
- It does best in part shade with medium to consistently wet soil, conditions similar to the swampy woods and floodplain forests where it commonly grows in the southeastern United States.
- Does Southern Woodfern stay green year round?
- It is semi-evergreen to evergreen in milder climates, often retaining fronds through winter in the warmer parts of its range.
- Is Southern Woodfern HOA-friendly?
- Southern Woodfern 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 the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). 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 Southern Woodfern? 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