Goldy's Wood Fern

Light Needs

Full Shade to Partial Shade

(0 - 4 Hours Of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

3-4 Feet

Mature Spread

2-3 Feet

Growing Zones

3 to 8

Goldy’s Wood Fern is excellent for the damp, shady garden. The color of this Giant Wood Fern is actually dark green, although younger growth is edged in a lighter, almost golden green. Dryopteris goldiana is native to the Eastern half of North America and is very easy to care for. The large fronds are stout and stand upright, making them stand out against other shady garden plants.

Goldy’s Wood Fern is a moderate grower, often used to naturalize a woodland garden, or more formally grown in containers with other architectural shade lovers such as hostas and Solomon’s Seal. Ferns are very hardy and have no diseases or pests that bother them. Deer and rabbits do not browse these prehistoric plants. Goldy’s Wood Fern is deciduous and will die back in the fall but return in the spring with showy fiddleheads unfurling into fronds.

Goldy’s Wood Fern Care

Plant Giant Wood Fern in a partial to fully shaded position that has well-draining, rich soil. Mulching with 2-3 inches of organic compost or shredded leaves will provide nutrients for the growing season. Goldy’s accepts any soil texture if the pH is neutral to acidic. Water Wood Ferns consistently so the soil feels like a wrung-out sponge. 

Ferns require little maintenance and can be left to grow naturally over the summer. Cleaning up the fronds in the fall as they turn yellow and die back is advised if there are any pests or diseases in the garden bed. Otherwise, the fronds can be left to insulate the growing crowns and provide shelter for local wildlife over the winter. In the spring, remove any dead plant material as the new fronds emerge. Add a layer of mulch around the base of the fern. Extra fertilizing is not required for ferns. 

Goldy’s Wood Fern Spacing

As its name implies, Giant Wood Fern grows large and can reach a mature height of 5 feet with a spread of 2-3 feet. Space each fern 30 inches apart on the center when planting multiples.