| Description | Autumn Fern ( Dryopteris erythrosora) is a dynamic fern changing foliage color in the spring and the fall. |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | (dry-OP-ter-iss)(er-rith-roh-SOR-uh) |
| Plant Type | Ferns - Hardy |
| Hardiness Zone | 5(6)-8(9) |
| Sunlight | partial to full shade, tolerating short periods of direct sun |
| Moisture | moist, once establish somewhat drought tolerant |
| Soil & Site | humus rich, moist |
| Flowers | The sori are bright red on the fertie frond. |
| Leaves | The young fronds are glossy, coppery pink and the mature fronds are deep glossy green. The fronds are broad, triangular and bipinnate. Cold weather initiates the russet red fall color. |
| Stems | short rhizomes |
| Dimensions | Reaches 18-36 inches tall with a spread of 18-24". |
| Propagation | spores or 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 |
| Notes & Reference | #228-Encyclopedia of Garden Ferns (Sue Olsen) |
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