Southern Wood Fern - Dryopteris ludoviciana (1 gal.)A lovely stately evergreen fern likes part to full shade and makes a wonderful understory plant growing only 2 4' tall and 2' wide. It likes moist hammocks and will tolerate some dry conditions. The shiny but leathery 3' tall fronds form a striking upright architectural specimen in the garden.

This shrub holds interest even when not flowering with its stunning foliage

or sandy soils

typically one to three feet tall

Once the fruit has dried

Butterflies will “drink” the minerals left when the water evaporates

providing multiple ways to introduce it into native gardens

This is a nice low evergreen shrub with showy flowers in the spring and small pretty little shiny leaves

This resilient plant thrives in full sun and dry to very dry sandy soils

its compact form makes it an excellent choice for a statement plant in gardens or as a striking addition to large containers

It is not a preferred host plant of the monarch butterfly but caterpillars can be reared on it successfully

Flowers typically appear in the fall

or loamy soils