Intermediate Wood Fern
Dryopteris intermediaAlso known as Evergreen Wood Fern, Fancy Fern, Glandular Wood Fern, American Shield Fern
Intermediate wood ferns unfurl intricately divided, lacy fronds that remain vibrant green beneath heavy snow blankets throughout winter. Minute glandular hairs coat the central stalk and leaflet veins, giving the foliage a slightly textured, aromatic character when brushed. Anchoring moist forest slopes across eastern North America, this resilient perennial plays a key ecological role in understory soil stabilization and serves as a vital ancestral parent to several widespread hybrid ferns.
1 / 7- Sunlight
- Water
- Soil minerals
- White-tailed Deer
- Fern Sawfly larvae
- Forest slugs
- OrderPolypodiales
- FamilyDryopteridaceae
- GenusDryopteris
- SpeciesDryopteris intermedia
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- Lens Check: Inspect the central stalk with a hand lens to see the tiny glandular hairs.
- Winter Spotting: Look for its clusters of vivid green fronds persisting against fresh snow.
- Habitat Clues: Search cool, shaded north-facing slopes and moist rocky ravines.
Found in Collections
Secret Garden
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