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Japanese holly fern and Marginal wood fern: growing conditions and wildlife benefits.

COMMON CHOICE Japanese holly fern Cyrtomium falcatum	NATIVE ALTERNATIVE Marginal wood fern Dryopteris marginalis
	GO NATIVE
Native range
Eastern Asia, including China and Vietnam	Eastern North America and GreenlandSee state guides
Sunlight
Part to full shade	Shade
Soil moisture
Moist, rich, well-drained soil	Average moisture
Mature height
About 1½–2 ft	1½–3 ft
Mature spread
2–3 ft	2–3 ft
USDA hardiness zones
7–10	4–9
Season of interest
Evergreen foliage in mild climates	Evergreen foliage
Garden & wildlife value
Not listed in the source profile; this fern has no flowers or nectar.	Evergreen fronds give ground-level wildlife cover and supply material for songbird nests.
Growing notes
A clumping fern with glossy, holly-like leaves. Fronds may die back in colder locations.	Forms a tidy, non-spreading crown in moist, well-drained soil; shelter from drying winds.
Growing information	Growing information

Sizes describe the species; individual cultivars can differ.