# autumn fern (*Dryopteris erythrosora*) The autumn fern is a beautiful plant with bright, colorful leaves that change in the fall. It loves to grow in shady places and adds a splash of color to gardens and forests. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 6 - **Habitat:** Forests ![autumn fern](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Dryopteris_erythrosora2.jpg&width=800) Photo: KENPEI, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dryopteris_erythrosora2.jpg) ## Appearance The autumn fern has striking fronds that emerge a beautiful coppery-red or bronze, gradually maturing into a glossy, dark green. Its triangular, deeply cut fronds form a dense, graceful clump, distinct from many plain green ferns. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Polypodiopsida - **Order:** Polypodiales - **Family:** Dryopteridaceae - **Genus:** Dryopteris ## Interesting facts - Ancient ferns like this have been around for millions of years, even before dinosaurs roamed the Earth! - Baby fern fronds unroll in a spiral, looking just like the head of a violin, called a "fiddlehead"! - Ferns help purify the air by absorbing pollutants, keeping our world clean and fresh! - Its scientific name, \*erythrosora\*, means "red sori," referring to the cool reddish spore cases on its fronds! ## Special abilities - **Spore Sprayer:** Autumn fern can reproduce using tiny spores found on the underside of its fronds, sending out new plant "babies" without needing flowers or seeds! - **Color Changer:** This fern has young fronds that magically unfurl in vibrant copper or red, then slowly transform to a deep, glossy green as they mature. - **Shade Seeker:** Autumn fern can thrive in shady spots where many other plants struggle, using the low light to grow strong and healthy. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-75 cm - **Spread:** 30-75 cm - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial ## Ecological connections - **Symbiotic with:** Common Earthworm (*Lumbricus terrestris*) — improves soil health - **Shelter:** [Garden Snail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-snail) (*Helix aspersa*) — rests under its fronds - **Symbiotic with:** Bonnet Mushroom (*Mycena galericulata*) — decomposes leaf litter ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch wild plants, as some can be prickly or not safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify autumn fern? Compare frond shape, how the leaflets are arranged, the stalk, and any spore clusters you can see. A single detached leaflet often hides the plant's overall growth pattern. Fern Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is autumn fern? 30-75 cm ### How wide does autumn fern spread? 30-75 cm ### Is autumn fern edible? No ### Is autumn fern toxic? None ### What is autumn fern's lifecycle? Perennial ### Where is autumn fern usually found? Forests ## Where to spot - [Fairlie-Poplar](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fairlie-poplar) — Georgia, US · Neighborhood - [Inman Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/inman-park) — Georgia, US · Neighborhood - [Techwood Homes](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/techwood-homes) — Georgia, US · Historic District - [Atlanta Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/atlanta-botanical-garden) — Georgia, US · Botanical Garden - [Candler Park Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/candler-park-historic-district) — Georgia, US · Historic District - [Colonial Annapolis Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/colonial-annapolis-historic-district) — Maryland, US · Historic District [View all places to see autumn fern](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/autumn-fern) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Autumn Fern: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/autumn-fern)