Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
The Leather Wood Fern is a darling plant that features delicate leaflets that are evenly spaced along the stems. This shade-loving plant, also known as Dryopteris marginalis, has a tight, flowing form with arching fronds. The fronds are light green in the spring and gradually settle into a grayish-green color with a lustrous, leathery texture.
As a native plant, the Leather Wood Fern is easy to maintain when planted in a shady spot. Use this clump-forming fern to add texture and color to a bed, cover an embankment, or showcase it in a container. The flowing fronds will also look lovely in a hanging basket. The Leather Wood Fern is a perennial in USDA zones 3 through 8.
Leather Wood Fern Care
As is typical for most ferns, the Leather Wood Fern requires full shade. Plant in an area that receives no more than 4 hours of sunlight. Soil should have high organic content and be moist but well-drained. Ferns like dampness, but they do not like standing water. Water this plant before the soil dries out.
Pruning is not necessary, but dead or damaged growth can be removed at any time. Apply a balanced fertilizer each spring.
Leather Wood Fern Spacing
The gently arching fronds of this fern will reach 18 to 24 inches tall and reach 24 to 30 inches across. Space plants 22 to 26 inches apart to create a consistent and full planting.
Leather Wood Fern Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 3 to 8 (perennial); grown as an annual elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown indoors elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown in containers elsewhere (grown as a seasonal crop)
- Sun Exposure
- Full Shade to Part Shade (0-4 Hours Direct Sun)
- Mature Height
- 1-2 Feet
- Mature Spread
- 2 Feet
- Growth Habit
- , Upright
- Water Needs
- Consistently Moist
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- Foliage Color
- , Green
- Foliage Description
- Grayish-Green
- Foliage Type
- , Evergreen
- Seasonal Interest
- , Spring Flowering, Summer Flowering, Fall Flowering, 4 Season Interest
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- Leather Wood Fern
- Botanical Name
- DRYOPTERIS MARGINALIS
- Plant Type
- Perennial
Simple Plant Spacing Calculator
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
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Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!