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Dryopteris tokyoensis (Tokyo Wood Fern): Upright Ladder-Like Fronds for Shade

Tokyo wood fern (Dryopteris tokyoensis) has distinctive ladder-like, upright fronds providing strong vertical accents. Vase-shaped clumps grow 18–36 inches tall. Ideal for woodland or shade gardens in moist, sheltered sites.

Culture & Care

Soil: Moist; light to full shade in sheltered site.
Propagation: Spores at 59°F when ripe; divide spring or autumn.

Potential Problems

Rust, leaf gall, fungal spots.

Quick Reference

Height	1–3 ft.
Spread	1–3 ft.
Growth Habit	Clumping, Moderate Grower
Light	Part Shade to Full Shade
Moisture	Medium
Maintenance	Low
Features	Showy Foliage
Uses	Beds, Borders, Ground Cover, Naturalizing
Style	Woodland Garden
Type	Fern

Other: Best Grass for Shade: Fine Fescue and Grass-Like Alternatives; Plants for Deep Shade: Hostas, Skimmia, Camellias, and Groundcovers; Shade Tree Alternatives to Maple, Oak, and Poplar; Greenhouse Winter Prep for Highland Nepenthes in Oregon; Best Soil Mix for Perennials and Shade Plant List; Heavy Shade Lawn Alternatives: Beyond Grass; Establishing a Lawn Under Oak Trees with Limited Irrigation; Dryopteris crassirhizoma (Wood Fern): Vase-Shaped Semi-Evergreen Specimen Fern; Astilbe: Feathery Plumes for the Summer Shade Garden; Shade-Tolerant Fescue Blends: Winter Beauty but Summer Decline Under Deepening Shade

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