Giant Wood Fern
Dryopteris goldieana
Ferns Difficulty: Easy
📖 About this plant
The largest native North American Dryopteris fern, forming impressive clumps of broad, bold, arching fronds. The leathery dark green foliage creates a lush, tropical feel in shade gardens. A magnificent specimen plant that brings structure and drama to woodland settings.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
☀️
Light
Partial to full shade (2-4 hrs)
💧
Water
Every 2-3 days
💨
Humidity
Moderate to high (50-70%)
🌡️
Temperature
10-24°C
🪴
Soil
Rich, moist, well-draining loam with abundant organic matter; slightly acidic to neutral
🧪
Fertilizer
Compost top dressing in spring; balanced slow-release fertilizer optional
🌐 Common Names
HI
Hindi
जायंट वुड फर्न
BN
Bengali
জায়ান্ট উড ফার্ন
MR
Marathi
जायंट वुड फर्न
TE
Telugu
జయంట్ వుడ్ ఫెర్న్
TA
Tamil
ஜயன்ட் வுட் ஃபெர்ன்
GU
Gujarati
જાયન્ટ વુડ ફર્ન
UR
Urdu
جائنٹ وڈ فرن
KN
Kannada
ಜೈಂಟ್ ವುಡ್ ಫರ್ನ್
OR
Odia
ଜାଏଣ୍ଟ ୱୁଡ ଫର୍ନ
ML
Malayalam
ജയന്റ് വുഡ് ഫേൺ
PA
Punjabi
ਜਾਇੰਟ ਵੁੱਡ ਫਰਨ
AS
Assamese
জায়েন্ট উড ফাৰ্ন
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- Eastern North America, from Canada to the Appalachian Mountains
- 📏 Max height
- 90-150 cm
- 📐 Spread
- 90-150 cm
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Non-flowering
- 🎨 Bloom color
- Non-flowering (produces spores)
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Dark Green
- ⏳ Lifespan
- Perennial
- 📈 Growth rate
- Moderate
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Non-toxic to humans and pets
- 🌱 Propagation
- Division of large clumps in early spring; spore propagation
🛡️ Health & Safety
🐾 Pet safe
✅ Non-toxic
Non-toxic to humans and pets
Common issues
- Slugs and snails on fronds
- Frond yellowing from too much sun
- Root rot from waterlogged soil
💡 Care tips
- Large imposing fern with arching dark green fronds
- Thrives in deeply shaded woodland gardens
- Very cold-hardy surviving winters to minus 20°C
- Deciduous in cold climates dying back to the ground in winter
🪴 Add to My Plants
One click — added instantly. Watering every 3 days, fertilizing every 30 days.
