Dryopteris x australis

Dryopteris × australis, known as Dixie Wood Fern, is a majestic, naturally occurring hybrid—born where two Southern stalwarts, Dryopteris celsa (Log Fern) and Dryopteris ludoviciana (Southern Wood Fern), crossed paths in the swampy hammocks of the Southeast from Virginia to Louisiana. In its elegant form, this fern outgrows both parents, producing arching, lance-shaped fronds that reach 4–5 ft tall and 2–3 ft wide, forming dense, vase-shaped clumps that bring both drama and structure to the shaded garden.

Hardy in USDA Zones 5a–9b, Dixie Wood Fern thrives in part to full shade and moist, rich, well-drained soils, but shows surprising adaptability—withstanding dry summer spells under canopy and enduring cold winters in northern zones. Semi-evergreen, it retains glossy dark green fronds throughout milder seasons, shedding only after frost and recovering beautifully when spring warmth returns—best revitalized by cutting back old growth before new shoots emerge. Its sterile nature ensures no invasive tendencies—only a stately, deer-resistant presence that anchors woodland landscapes, rain gardens, and stream banks with refined southern elegance.

Highlights

• Origin: Natural hybrid of Dryopteris celsa × D. ludoviciana, found wild in VA–LA

• Size: Arching fronds reach 4–5 ft tall, 2–3 ft wide Evergreen Habit: Semi-evergreen—holds foliage in Zones 8–9; dies back slightly in colder zones

• Growth Rate: Moderate; forms slow-spreading, structured clumps

• Cultural Needs: Part to full shade, moist humus-rich soil; tolerates dry shade once established

• Resilience: USDA Zones 5a–9b; deer- and rabbit-resistant; adapts to drought and winter cold