Few hardy ferns have this beautiful deep, glossy green foliage. However, during the winter months the fronds tend to lie flat on the ground. The fronds grow one to two feet tall and are dependably evergreen. They are adapted to a wide range of conditions, from dry to moist, and are hardy to Zone 3. There are so many ferns that I cannot mention them all but I have to mention Christmas ferns (Polystichum acrostichoides) because they are a staple in my garden. It is a Proven Winner plant that I will have to try one day. It is said to be vigorous and a little taller variety that would fit into the middle of the border. It is similar in color to a traditional Japanese Painted Fern, but the tips of the fronds are double crested. It was a Japanese painter fern called ‘Crested Surf’. I saw a fern the other day that I have not grown but looked interesting. I will say that it is planted near some rocks that I am sure held some heat that helped them survive. They are hardy in zones 6 to 10 and this past winter when we had 6-degree weather the day before Christmas, mine survived. The leathery, shiny-green fronds grow to about 2 -3 feet and add a completely different texture than other ferns. Often when people are walking in the garden in the winter, I am asked about my holly ferns which got its name because of the pointed tips of the leaves. It is supposed to have a more dramatic look than ‘Brilliance’ that I have grown for a few years. The other new fern I added this year is ‘Koidzumiana’ which boast brilliant russet red in the fall color. ‘Brilliance’, ‘Koidzumiana’, ‘Gold Mist’ are three of the newer ones that boast more color.

The new fronds are a lovely copper color as they emerge and the fall color can be dramatic, depending on which one you buy.

They are easy to grow and they make a two-foot-wide clump in a short time. These ferns are the rage now and for good reason. They like dappled light and moisture.Īnother favorite are the autumn ferns. Some people say maidenhair ferns are too hard to grow and are too finicky but if you find the right spot, they do great. I love the northern maidenhair and this year I have splurged and bought a new one called 'Bermuda Run' that was found in Bermuda which I bought from Plant Delights. I have discovered some Southern maidenhair ferns that will winter over where I live but most are a little too tender for my climate. However, if I had to choose just one, I would probably pick one of the many maidenhair (Adiantum) ferns. I have lots of favorite ferns, it is hard to say which is the best because some are perfect for one area and then another might look best in another location. Begonias and Impatients are shade loving plants that work in nicely with ferns. Ferns look great as a background to different brightly colored annuals if you tend to want to add other colors to you shade garden. Spacing should depend on the type of fern since some are mat-forming and will quickly spread to blanket an area while others are self-contained and can be used as specimen plants among mixed plantings.įerns fit in nicely with other shade plants like Hostas, Astilbes, Heuchera, Hellebores and other shade classics. Think about how they grow in the forest and try to mimic their habitat, using soil that is a loamy with lots of leaf mold and which is both moist and well-drained. The dabbled shade provided by tree branches provide the best conditions. Most ferns like shade but a few will tolerate more sun. A single plant can drop millions of spores onto the ground, yet only a few will actually find the ideal conditions to grow. They propagate via spores that are like small dots on the underside of the fronds (or leaves). There are so many different species of ferns that they are a unique category of plants. And, if this is not enough to wet your appetite, the deer do not eat them.įerns have been in existence for more than 300 million years. They come in different shades of green and others turn bronze or yellow in the fall. Some are glossy, others are dull, some are evergreen while others are deciduous. You can have short ones like resurrection fern or large ones like the ostrich fern. Ferns can have a delicate texture like the maidenhair ferns or be coarse and thick like holly ferns. They come in all shapes, sizes, and textures and because of the diversity of ferns, there is one that will fit about any garden. Ferns are the perfect plant to add to a shade garden.

Brilliance fern plant