Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Fern
  
Perennial
  
Origin
Southeastern United States, South-Central United States, Texas
  
Southeastern United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Southwestern United States, Texas, Canada, Mexico
  
Types
Not available
  
Not Available
  
Habitat
Cliffs, Forests, Rocky areas, Slopes
  
Dry areas, Prairies, Rocky areas, rocky outcrops
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
6-9
  
3-10
  
AHS Heat Zone
Not Available
  
10-1
  
Sunset Zone
Not Available
  
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Clump-Forming
  
Upright/Erect
  
Plant Size
  
  
Minimum Width
Not Available
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Non Flowering Plant
  
Yellow, Purple, Burgundy, Light Green, Brown
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Non Fruiting Plant
  
Brown
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
  
Light Green, Gray Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
  
Light Green, Gray Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
  
Light Green, Gray Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Not Available
  
Light Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Compound
  
Subulate
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
  
Summer
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Shade, Partial shade
  
Full Sun
  
Growth Rate
Medium
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
  
Neutral
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Not Available
  
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
  
Ground
  
How to Plant?
Bulbs, Rhizome division, Tubers
  
Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water
  
Average Water Needs, Water in morning to avoid prompting diseases
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
  
Neutral
  
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Shade, Partial shade
  
Full Sun
  
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Cut or pinch the stems, Pinch Tips, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead flowers, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Remove deadheads
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Apply N-P-K
  
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free, Red blotch
  
Pests and diseases free, Red blotch
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought, Dry Conditions, Dry soil, Full Sun
  
Flowers
None
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
No
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Fine
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Butterflies, Flying insects
  
Birds, Butterflies
  
Allergy
Itchiness, Skin irritation
  
Rhinitis
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Borders, Hanging Basket, Mixed Border, Showy Purposes, Used as an interior landscaping species, Used for decorating walls, fences, gates, hedges, etc.
  
Borders
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
No
  
No
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Not Available
  
Analgesic
  
Part of Plant Used
Not Available
  
Flowers
  
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant, Used for Landscaping
  
Can be made into a herbal tea, Used in making tea
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
  
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Wildflower
  
Botanical Name
DRYOPTERIS ludoviciana
  
RATIBIDA columnifera
  
Common Name
Southern wood fern
  
Mexican Hat
  
In Hindi
southern wood fern
  
Mexican Hat
  
In German
südlichen Holz fern
  
Mexican Hat
  
In French
sud dryoptéride
  
Mexican Hat
  
In Spanish
helecho de madera sur
  
mexican Hat
  
In Greek
νότια φτέρη ξύλο
  
Mexican Hat
  
In Portuguese
samambaia de madeira do sul
  
Mexican Hat
  
In Polish
południowej drewna paproci
  
Mexican Hat
  
In Latin
Fern australi
  
Mexicanus Hat
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Tracheophyta
  
Tracheophyta
  
Class
Filicopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Polypodiales
  
Asterales
  
Family
Dryopteridaceae
  
Asteraceae
  
Genus
Dryopteris
  
Ratibida
  
Clade
Not Available
  
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Number of Species
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Season and Care of Southern Wood Fern and Mexican Hat
Season and care of Southern Wood Fern and Mexican Hat is important to know. While considering everything about Southern Wood Fern and Mexican Hat Care, growing season is an essential factor. Southern Wood Fern season is Spring, Summer and Fall and Mexican Hat season is Spring, Summer and Fall. The type of soil for Southern Wood Fern is Clay, Loam, Sand and for Mexican Hat is Loam, Sand while the PH of soil for Southern Wood Fern is Acidic, Neutral and for Mexican Hat is Neutral.
Southern Wood Fern and Mexican Hat Physical Information
Southern Wood Fern and Mexican Hat physical information is very important for comparison. Southern Wood Fern height is 76.20 cm and width Not Available whereas Mexican Hat height is 30.00 cm and width 30.50 cm. The color specification of Southern Wood Fern and Mexican Hat are as follows:
Southern Wood Fern flower color: Non Flowering Plant
Southern Wood Fern leaf color: Dark Green
Mexican Hat flower color: Yellow, Purple, Burgundy, Light Green and Brown
- Mexican Hat leaf color: Light Green and Gray Green
Care of Southern Wood Fern and Mexican Hat
Care of Southern Wood Fern and Mexican Hat include pruning, fertilizers, watering etc. Southern Wood Fern pruning is done Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches and Remove dead leaves and Mexican Hat pruning is done Cut or pinch the stems, Pinch Tips, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead flowers, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts and Remove deadheads. In summer Southern Wood Fern needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water. Whereas, in summer Mexican Hat needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water.