Dryopteris ludoviciana, commonly known as Southern Woodfern, is an evergreen fern in mild climates, native to swampy areas, moist woodlands, and marsh edges in the southeastern United States. It typically grows tall and upright, reaching a mature height of 30–48 inches with shiny, leathery dark green fronds that add texture to garden settings. The fronds are lance-shaped and can provide a lush, tropical appearance throughout the year.

Southern Woodfern is valued for its adaptability to various moisture conditions, although it thrives in consistently moist soils. It is an excellent choice for shaded garden areas, woodland gardens, and naturalized settings, where it can form attractive clumps. This fern is also used for erosion control on moist, shady slopes. It is hardy in USDA plant hardiness zones 5–10 and prefers part shade to full shade. While it can tolerate dry spells, Southern Woodfern benefits from regular watering and well-drained, rich organic soil. Despite its preference for moisture, it is relatively drought-tolerant once established. Gardeners should be aware that it can be slow to establish but is long-lived once it does.CC BY-SA 4.0