Dryopteris erythrosora
Autumn Fern, Japanese Wood Fern, Japanese Shield Fern, Copper Shield Fern
Family |
Dryopteridaceae |
Genus |
Dryopteris |
Species |
erythrosora |
Category |
Perennials |
Synonyms |
Aspidium erythrosorum |
USDA Hardiness Zone |
8b - 9a |
Canadian Hardiness Zone |
8b |
RHS Hardiness Zone |
H4 |
Temperature (°C) |
-10 to -5 |
Temperature (°F) |
14 - 23 |
Height |
0.5 - 1 m |
Spread |
0.5 - 1 m |
General Description |
Dryopteris erythrosora is a clump-forming, arching fern with broadly ovate pinna and triangular, bipinnate fronds, orange-red to copper-pink when young. |
Landscape |
A low maintenance plant well-suited to flower garden borders and underplantings. Contributes to the informal, nostalgic effect of a cottage or woodland garden. |
Cultivation |
Grows easily in sheltered locations, partial to full shade, humusy, slightly acidic, consistently moist soil. It is important not to let the soil dry out. Will grow in full sun if soil is well watered. More mature plants will tolerate dry shade. |
Shape |
Vase-shaped. |
Growth |
Medium |
Pests |
No serious pests or diseases of note. |
Habitat |
Woodland hillsides and mountain slopes. |
Leaf Description |
Fiddleheads unfurl to reveal orange-red to copper-pink, triangular fronds. These mature into a glossy green colour by summertime. Fronds are made up of broadly oval-shaped pinna that decrease in size to the tip. |
Flower Description |
Non-flowering but producing spores. |
Fruit Description |
Spores are produced by sori, small, round bumps on the underside of fronds. Young sori are covered by a thin, bright red membrane. |
Propagation |
By division in the spring, separating the small crowns from the larger crowns. Also by sowing spores as soon as they are ripe. |