Zone 5 · winter lows -20°F to -10°F

Dryopteris for Zone 5

61 Dryopteris varieties rated hardy through Zone 5, ranked by how many gardeners actually grow them. Zone 5 is classic northern gardening with a reliable snow blanket.

61 hardy hereof 73 Dryopteris totalLast frost ~early May

The Dryopteris that thrive in Zone 5

#1 most saved

Broad Buckler-fern

Dryopteris dilatata 'Jimmy Dyce'

Zones 4–9· 49 saves

#2 most saved

Log Fern

Dryopteris x celsa 'Shreveport'

Zones 5–9· 48 saves

#3 most saved

Autumn Fern

Dryopteris erythrosora

Zones 5–9· 48 saves· from $13

Western Wood Fern The King Fern

Dryopteris affinis 'The King'

Zones 4–8· 45 saves· from $18

Shaggy Shield Fern

Dryopteris cycadina

Zones 5–8· 45 saves

Goldie's Wood Fern

Dryopteris goldieana

Zones 4–8· 44 saves· from $19

Clinton's Wood Fern

Dryopteris x clintoniana

Zones 4–8· 42 saves

Log Fern

Dryopteris x separabilis

Zones 4–8· 42 saves

Wallich's Wood Fern

Dryopteris wallichiana 'Tucumanji'

Zones 5–9· 42 saves

Southern Wood Fern

Dryopteris australis

Zones 5–9· 40 saves· from $25

Tokyo Wood Fern

Dryopteris tokyoensis

Zones 4–8· 39 saves

Brilliance Autumn Fern

Dryopteris erythrosora 'Brilliance'

Zones 4–7· 38 saves· from $12

Log Fern

Dryopteris x celsa

Zones 5–9· 38 saves

Sichuan Splendor Fern

Dryopteris bissetiana 'Sichuan Splendor'

Zones 5–9· 38 saves

Giant Wood Fern

Dryopteris dilatata 'Lepidota Cristata'

Zones 4–8· 37 saves

Marginal Wood Fern

Dryopteris marginalis

Zones 4–8· 36 saves· from $18

Champion's Wood Fern

Dryopteris championii

Zones 5–8· 35 saves· from $18

Broad Buckler Fern 'Grandiceps'

Dryopteris dilatata 'Grandiceps'

Zones 4–8· 35 saves

Stableri Crisped Fern

Dryopteris x complexa 'Stableri Crisped'

Zones 5–9· 35 saves

Kinkiensis Fern Green Hans

Dryopteris kinkiensis 'Green Hans'

Zones 5–8· 34 saves· from $19

Rigid Buckler-fern

Dryopteris villarii

Zones 5–9· 33 saves

corymbed wood fern

Dryopteris corymbifera

Zones 4–7· 33 saves

Jinfoshan Giant Wood Fern

Dryopteris bissetiana 'Jinfoshan Giant'

Zones 4–9· 33 saves

Jurassic Gold Wood Fern

Dryopteris wallichiana 'Jurassic Gold'

Zones 5–9· 31 saves· from $18

Showing the 24 most-saved of 61 Zone 5–hardy Dryopteris varieties. See the full Dryopteris list →

Dryopteris in Zone 5

Will Dryopteris survive a Zone 5 winter?

61 of the 73 Dryopteris varieties in the Sow catalog are rated hardy through Zone 5, where winter lows reach -20°F to -10°F. Hardiness is per-variety, not per-genus — the plants listed above are the ones that hold up; others in the genus are not rated for this zone.

When should I plant Dryopteris in Zone 5?

In Zone 5 the last spring frost typically lands around early May and the first fall frost around early October. Planting after the last frost — or in early fall, so roots establish before the ground cools — gives the best establishment. Each plant page lists its own planting months.

Which Dryopteris is best for Zone 5?

Start at the top of the list above: it is ranked by how many gardeners actually save and grow each variety, which is a strong real-world reliability signal. Then narrow by your sun exposure and the mature size that fits the bed.

Keep exploring

All Dryopteris

Every Dryopteris variety (73)

Dryopteris in other zones

More for Zone 5

See Dryopteris in your Zone 5 yard

Snap a photo of your space and Sow places these varieties in it at true mature size — then keeps the care schedule for everything you plant.