Dryopteris Ludoviciana 'Southern Shield' is a fast growing perennial plant that can be grown in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 7A through 10B. It matures to an average height of 2 feet to 3 feet and an average width of 2 feet to 3 feet, depending on climate and other environmental factors. It prefers growing in a location that provides shade or morning sun with afternoon shade and grows best when planted in sand, loam, clay or silt soil that is well drained. The foliage is medium green in color. It attracts visual attention and is resistant to deer, drought, insects, diseases, mildew and heat.

Southern Shield Fern can be useful in the landscape along woodland borders, in containers or planters, as a background, around decks, swimming pools, and other outdoor living areas, as an accent, under a shade tree, in landscape beds or islands, to accentuate entryways or in small groupings and also in cottage gardens.

More About Southern Shield Fern...

The Southern Shield Fern, Dryopteris ludoviciana, also known as the 'Florida Shield Fern', is a stately, semi-evergreen clumping fern, native to the Southeastern US. It grows naturally throughout the South in wet woods, swamps, and over limestone rocks where it may reach majestic, evergreen clumps to 4 feet tall and 3 feet wide. In the garden, however, it is an easy fern in light shade and average to moist soil where it spreads slowly and rarely exceeds 3 feet; unless you are in the deep South with oppressively hot, humid summers and heavy, saturated soils. In this case, the fern thrives and attains its impressive 4 feet clumps.

The fronds of the Southern Shield Fern are slender, glossy, and dark green, only dying back when temperatures drop into the 20's. It makes a wonderful addition to the woodland garden. The shiny but leathery  fronds form a striking upright architectural specimen in the garden. Despite being native to swamps, this hardy fern performs very well in normal garden conditions. 

The Southern Shield Fern is easy to grow in slightly acidic to alkaline, humus-rich, moist to well-drained moist soils and some shade. It will tolerate dry conditions for a period of time but prefers the moisture. It prefers an environment that provides some shade or dappled light throughout the day. Morning sun with afternoon shade is fine.

Plant the Southern Shield Fern as an accent, in clusters, or in mass in the shaded woodland or bog garden.

Helpful Related Articles Provided by Our Experts

How To Plant Perennials

How to Prune Perennial Plants

Fertilizing Perennial Plants

Winterizing Perennial Plants

You Can Have Color Year Round In Your Landscape & Gardens!