Georgia Native Ferns

Volume 3, Issue 34
September 7, 2012
Georgia Native Ferns
Dryopteris, commonly known as Wood
Fern, is a genus of about 250 species of ferns,
about 25 of which are native to Georgia. This
makes Dryopteris one of the largest genera
of ferns, and species of Dryopteris are more
widely available in the nursery trade than
almost any other Georgia native fern. Many
of them make great garden plants, and the
following species do exceptionally well in our
Georgia climate.
Dryopteris marginalis
Dryopteris ludoviciana
Dryopteris x australis
Dryopteris marginalis, commonly
known as Marginal Wood Fern, is a sturdy
selection with leathery fronds. It forms a tidy
clump that will not spread and is very tolerant of
dry shade conditions, making it an ideal choice
for your Southern garden. In its native habitat,
it is most often found in shaded crevices of rock
ledges. In Georgia, it grows in numerous
northern counties and southward to Rockdale
County.
Table of Contents
Georgia Native
Ferns
pg. 1
An Autumn Tea
pg. 2
Baby Congrats
pg. 3
Lockerly Trustees
Monica Webb,
President
Joe Mangum,
Vice President
Robert Culberson, Ph.D.,
Treasurer
Sherrill Jones,
Dryopteris ludoviciana is known as
Secretary
Florida Wood Fern, Southern Shield Fern, or
Southern Wood Fern. Its name ludoviciana is
Kathy Chandler
actually Latin for “of Louisiana,” where this
David Evans
fern was first discovered in the early 1800s. It
Steven
M. Fortier, Ph.D.
features dark green, lustrous, leathery fronds
Jan Flynn, Ph.D.
with pointed tips. Southern Wood Fern is
George
Hogan, Sr.
most often found in swamps and damp woods,
James Marshall
requiring plenty of moisture to thrive. In
Jackie Nelson
Georgia, it is confined to the Coastal Plains.
Doug R. Oetter, Ph.D.
Joni Smith
Dryopteris celsa, or Log Fern, is an
Bruce Vaughn, CFP
easily-grown fern named because of its
Al Woods
tendency to grow on rotting logs. It is a
woodland fern which is native to moist woods
and swamps in the southeastern U.S. west to Missouri and
Arkansas, with additional populations along the east coast ranging
as far north as New York. Typically reaching 3 to 4 ft. tall, Log Fern
features firm, deeply cut, shiny dark green fronds with contrasting stripes. It
tolerates dense shade as well as rabbits. For best results, plant this
native fern in shade in moist, rich soil.
Dryopteris x australis is known as Hybrid Wood Fern or Dixie
Wood Fern. It is a natural hybrid between D. celsa and D. ludoviciana.
This plant is very rare in the wild, found only in limited portions of North
and South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia and Louisiana. It is a superb
garden plant, growing taller than either parent and known to be resistant
to deer. Hybrid Wood Fern is tolerant of dry sites, but will perform best if
planted in soils with consistent moisture. This dramatic fern will garner
lots of attention to your garden with its 4-foot tall arching fronds and
impressive clumps.
Dryopteris celsa
Dryopteris has so many species, it can be difficult to choose
between them. Rest assured that whichever Wood Fern you choose for
your garden, it will thrive in our Southern climate as long as it is watered
regularly and given some shade.
An Autumn Tea
Make sure you mark your calendar for Sunday, September 23!
Lockerly Arboretum and the Oconee Regional Healthcare Foundation will be
hosting “An Autumn Tea” from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. on Lockerly’s front lawn.
This event is for both parents and children. There will be outdoor activities,
refreshments, and family photos being taken for only $5. Tickets are available
for $10 per person by contacting Connie Wilson at cwilson@ormcinc.org or by
calling (478) 456-9866. You can also contact Vicki Folendore for tickets at
vickifolendore@lockerly.org or (478) 452-2112. Checks are payable to Oconee
Regional Healthcare Foundation. This is guaranteed to be a great time for the whole
family. We hope to see you there!
Baby Congratulations!
Our Director of Education Greg Eilers and his wife Ruth welcomed a baby boy on Wednesday, September 5 early
in the evening. Baby Benjamin entered the world weighing in at 9 lbs. 9 oz and is 21.5 inches long. We are all so happy for
Greg and Ruth, and wish them all the best with their new addition!