| Description | Most Autumn Ferns will have frond coloration in the spring and fall, but this cultivars colors are brighter. |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | (dry-OP-ter-iss)(er-rith-roh-SOR-uh) |
| Plant Type | All Plants, Ferns - Hardy |
| Hardiness Zone | 3-8 |
| Sunlight | shade, part shade |
| Moisture | prefers moist sites |
| Soil & Site | humus rich, moist |
| Growing Media | humus rich, moist |
| Flowers | bright-red spore clusters (sori) appear on frond undersides. |
| Leaves | fronds have a copper-red color in the spring, russet in the fall, green during the growing season |
| Dimensions | 18-24" tall by 18" spread |
| Propagation | division |
| Misc Facts | The genus name Dryopteris (Greek) means "oak-fern". The fern is found many times growing in Oak forests. The species name felis-mas means male fern, probably because of its vigorous growth. For centuries an extract of this fern was used to control tapeworms. The chemicals filicin and filmarone found in the oil are toxic to the worms |
| Author's Notes | This is an impressive plant in the spring. Under the correct growing conditions they are vivid. |
| Notes & Reference | #90-Ferns for American Gardens (John T Mickel), #228-Encyclopedia of Garden Ferns (Sue Olsen) |
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