Dryopteris x australis (Dixie Wood Fern)

Dixie wood fern is a naturally occurring mostly sterile hybrid fern that is becoming increasingly rare in its native habitat, from Virginia to Louisiana. Noted as Dryopteris x australis, this fern is a cross between Dryopteris celsa (found throughout the midatlantic) and Dryopteris ludoviciana (found throughout much of the southeast). Dixie wood fern is noted for its showy rounded fronds and its very large size, occasionally groing to 4-5' tall!

Dryopteris x australis is a semi-evergreen fern throughout mild winters, and tolerates the dry summers when kept consistently shaded or moist, such as under the canopy of thick forests or in wetter sites or swampy areas. This fern's attractive, arching fronds and clump-forming behavior make it an excellent choice for naturalizing in woodland environments, or for planting in borders. Dixie wood fern will grow best when given consistent shade to part shade in rich, moist, humusy soils.