Wood ferns, also known as Male ferns

Wood ferns typically feature luscious, deep green fronds that are characteristically divided, giving a feathery appearance. Each frond can reach lengths of up to 3 feet (90 cm), emerging from a central, robust rhizome. The foliage can form dense, lush clumps that thrive in the cool understory of forests. The leaves exhibit a classic fern structure, with leaflets aligned on either side of a central stalk, and are best known for their hardiness and texture which provide visual interest in shaded garden areas. The spore-producing structures, called sori, can be found on the underside of mature leaflets, varying in position and pattern based on species.