 "Dryopteris marginalis" is an evergreen fern throughout its range, along with Christmas fern ("Polystichum acrostichoides") it is one of the few evergreen ferns.Marginal wood fern grows from a clump with a prominent central rootstock, this rootstock may be exposed and give this fern the appearance of being like a small tree fern.Often, the dead leaves will accumulate beneath the plant.