Marginal Wood Fern plant profile
Dryopteris marginalis
A perennial fern for shade.
Last updated .
When to plant
When to plant Marginal Wood Fern
Marginal wood fern is an evergreen shade fern that grows as a single non-spreading crown, giving winter interest. Set out new plants in spring as growth resumes; it does best in moist, well-drained shade and is seldom damaged by deer.
The calendar shows this cited seasonal window as an approximate band. It does not convert the season into frost-adjusted dates.
Open Marginal Wood Fern in my garden calendarShows the source-backed planting season, not frost-adjusted dates.
Growing conditions
- Sun
- Shade
- Soil pH
- 4.5 to 6
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Spacing
- 12 to 36 in apart
- Hardiness
- Zones 4a to 9bFind my hardiness zone
Next steps
Continue with Marginal Wood Fern
Evidence trail
Evidence behind this profile
Original extension and institutional publications behind the planting, care, and safety facts on this page.
- Dryopteris marginalis (Marginal Wood Fern)
North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (NC State Extension). Supports general reference. Checked 2026-06-18.