What Southern Shield Fern brings to any garden is classic beauty with her shiny, patent-leather-like green foliage and upright growth habit reaching heights up to 4 feet and widths of 1 foot. Her vibrant aloe-like color is typical of ferns and as such offers an evergreen show in warmer areas. In cooler areas, Southern Shield is deciduous, dying back in the winter.
In these environments, her vivid green fans of foliage emerging from a bed of Vinca or Ivy in spring is a real show stopper. What Southern Shield will thank you for is loose, rich soil with moisture at its roots and protection from direct sun.
She is a southern girl, though and as such, will tolerate a great deal of drought. She forms clumping, and has a slow to moderate growth rate. Her creeping and branching habits make her a real lady in the garden, never invading an area you don't wish her to go. When you need height, vibrancy and movement, you'll want to consider Southern Shield.
Interesting Fact "Ludoviciana" is the Latinized version of the word "Louisiana". This Dryopteris is native to swamps and wet woods from Florida to Texas and as far north as Kentucky and North Carolina.
Gardener Tips You cannot go wrong placing Southern Shield in a bed of Vinca major where the two colors offer such striking contrast that she appears like a green sunrise in springtime.
General information about Ferns:
When gardeners and landscape designers are looking for a dramatic, vibrant spray of color and foliage, they will often consider ferns for their project.
In addition to sweeping texture and lush greenery, ferns work wonderfully as independent or companion perennials.
Perfect in mass plantings where they create the feeling of a field of grass swaying gently in soft breezes, ferns are also delightful as
borders
where they stand like shapely chartreuse soldiers at the edges of garden beds.
Then again, when used as accents, in single plantings, or clusters amidst a rock garden, you have a moving work of willowy art.
But what to choose?
You’ll be pleased to know that after more than 40 years of experimenting with various ferns, we have compiled a selection of the easiest to grow and hardiest ferns.Essentially, we’ve narrowed the list down for you, so you can select from our varieties with confidence.
A bonus with our ferns is that all, except
Japanese Painted Fern
and
Japanese Shield Fern
are
native to the United States.
Selections like
Christmas Fern
are wonderful
erosion control
options.
With some ferns being
evergreen
and some semi-evergreen, you are sure to find the option that works wonderfully for your garden.
Be sure to check each plant's Description tab for details.
Special note when planting bare root ferns in hot weather: If you plant bare root ferns during hot weather it is common for the foliage to die off. Do not fret, as long as you keep them moist they will grow back foliage. Depending on the severity of the heat it might not be until after summer ends.
Just planted so all I can comment on is that they arrived in very good condition. Will see how they grow over the next couple weeks. Received the wrong order first but CG sent the correct plants the next day. Very good customer service. Still have the... Read full review >
I was surprised when there was no "keep upright" or "this side up" on the box; only 1 of 24 plants had fallen out, minor damage. I got them all planted, here in OK City, between days of heavy rains/thunderstorms/tornado watches. Put some 'Native Texas Hardwood... Read full review >
Performs best in well-drained (but moist) soil with added organic compost or peat moss. Best not to allow soil to dry out. Will tolerate sun if given enough moisture.Ferns have delicate foliage that often suffers during shipment and transplanting. Cut off any foliage that is broken, bent, brown or yellow - the plants will quickly recuperate with fresh growth. Bare root ferns are particularly prone to foliage loss, it is not uncommon to have to cut them off at ground level when transplanting. As long as the roots are firm they will recover, often showing new growth within weeks during warm months. If transplanting bare root ferns during warm weather they might not send up foliage until summer ends or the following spring (best to transplant bare root ferns when they are dormant: late fall to early spring).
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See all plants that grow within a certain height range.
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Having foliage that falls off or sheds at a specific season.
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Forms a mound while growing out from the center, maintaining a compact shape.
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See our Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum').
See our Japanese Shield Fern (Japanese Wood Fern, Autumn Fern, Dryopteris erythrosora).
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See our Southern Shield Fern (Dryopteris ludoviciana).
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See all plants that deer tend to avoid (deer will eat anything if they are hungry enough).
See our Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides).
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Conifers are gymnosperms, woody cone-bearing trees and shrubs. Examples of the 600+ conifers include cedars, cypresses, firs, junipers, kauri, larches, pines, hemlocks, redwoods, spruces, and yews.
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