Dryopteris

Family Dryopteridaceae. The genus Dryopteris includes terrestrial herbs with creeping, oblique or erect scaly rhizomes.

Leaves are all the same or the sterile ones differ from the spore-bearing. Sterile leaves are pinnately compound or pinnately divided, less often more or less entire, glabrous, leathery, with an entire or toothed margin and free terminal veins. Sori are arranged in two almost continuous long rows on either side of the midrib of the pinna and are covered on the outer side by a membranous indusium.

They reproduce by spores, while Dryopteris "sea feather" reproduces easily by division of the rhizomes. These plants prefer moist but well-drained, acidic garden soils in light partial shade. They should be well protected with fallen leaves for the winter. The most shade-tolerant is the Dryopteris sea feather. Because of its tendency to spread it is used as a low groundcover. Dryopteris spicate and Dryopteris japonica are quite compact and suitable for shady gardens and rockeries.