1 named cultivar

‘Odaesan’Odaesan Fern

fern

Fern

Q: What zones can Fern grow in?

Fern is hardy in USDA Zones 5–8. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Q: Is Fern deer resistant?

Yes — Fern is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

Q: When does Fern bloom?

Fern typically blooms in non-flowering; reproduces by spores through late fall. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Dryopteris crassirhizoma

$24.00

The Story

Plant Bio

Dryopteris crassirhizoma, the thick-stemmed wood fern, is a semi-evergreen fern from wooded slopes in northeastern Asia, growing two to three and a half feet high and about two across. Fronds rise from a stout erect rootstock in a clean vase shape, opening pale and darkening through the season. It holds that form without support.

The vase habit is unusually tidy for a large fern and holds up into winter in mild gardens, which makes it useful as a specimen rather than as filler. Its fronds are large enough to be damaged by wind, so a sheltered position in shade matters more to the look of the plant than soil richness does.

Uses & Benefits:

A clean upright vase of large fronds, holding its shape into winter in mild gardens.

Substantial evergreen structure for shade that needs no staking and very little attention.

Dense frond cover shelters ground-level invertebrates, and rabbits generally leave it alone.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Fern

Height

30 inches

Width

24 inches

Light

Partial Sun, Shade

Zones

5, 6, 7, 8

Water

Medium

Humidity

Average to high

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

Northeastern Asia

Toxicity

Non-toxic

Marketplace

Where to Buy

Plant Delights Nursery

<1 Gal Pot1+ Gal Pot

In Stock$24.00

Shipping costs Year-round shipping Free shipping

Planting

How to Grow

Plant in spring in part to full shade.
Choose moist, humus-rich soil with plenty of organic matter.
Site it out of strong wind to protect the fronds.
Set the crown at soil level, never buried.
Water through dry spells in the first seasons.
Remove tired fronds at the base in late winter.

Pro Tip

Keep the crown proud of the soil; burying the stout rootstock is the usual cause of rot in this fern.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Grow it in part to full shade 🌳
Shelter it from strong wind 🌬️
Enrich the soil with organic matter 🍂
Cut tired fronds at the base in late winter ✂️

Don't

Bury the crown when planting ❌
Site it in an exposed, windy position ❌
Let the soil dry out repeatedly ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Tidy
Water

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Specimen fern in a woodland or shade gardenStructural planting in a damp shaded borderGroup planting under trees

Companion Plants

Hosta EpimediumSolomon's Seal Hellebore Foamflower

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Fern questions

What zones can Fern grow in?

Fern is hardy in USDA Zones 5–8. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Fern deer resistant?

Yes — Fern is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Fern bloom?

Fern typically blooms in non-flowering; reproduces by spores through late fall. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Fern need full sun?

Fern does best in part shade.