Alpine Woodfern
Dryopteris wallichiana
- Native to:
- Argentina, Bolivia, Borneo, Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Galápagos, Guatemala, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, India, Iran, Jamaica, Japan, Jawa, Madagascar, Mexico, Myanmar, Nepal, New Guinea, Panamá, Peru, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Sulawesi, Taiwan, Transcaucasus, Tristan da Cunha, Türkiye, United States, Vietnam, Zimbabwe
iNaturalist: © rajkoranga (iNaturalist #172968969)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Pteridophyta | - Ferns
- Family:
- Polypodiaceae
- Genus:
- Dryopteris
- Species:
- Dryopteris wallichiana
- USDA Symbol:
- DRWA
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 150 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Prefers shaded, forested environments
Propagation & Germination
- Notes:
- Ferns reproduce via spores, not seeds; spore germination requires moist, humid conditions and can take several months to produce prothalli.
Pre-treatment: Cold-moist stratification for 30 days at 1–5°C (34–41°F).; then Cold-moist stratification for 60 days.
Source: Claude AI