Dryopteris marginalis (Leather Woodfern, Marginal Woodfern, Marginal Shieldfern, Eastern Woodfern)
Commonly called Leather Woodfern because of its broad, leathery fronds, this fern is native to Newfoundland, south to Georgia and west as far as Texas. It is semi-evergreen. In spring, its brown fiddleheads appear and bright green leaves that transition blue/green with age. Leather Woodfern grows from twenty inches tall all the way to three feet and about 10 inches wide. It is non-colonizing and non-aggressive and a perfect accompaniment to the cool woodland garden or as an accent in a shade garden. Although it prefers shade or part shade and moisture-retentive soil, once established, this well-behaved little soldier is tolerant of dry shade. Zones 4-8. (Photo by Daderot (Own work) [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons and in the public domain).