Fabulous Ferns

Gardening by the Yard : Episode GBY-1209 -- More Projects »
As a result of all his wanderings, master gardener Paul James has fallen in love with a spectacular group of woodland plants, namely ferns. "There's just something about them that I find irresistible, which is why I've planted well more than 100 of them in my landscape."

Here are some of his favorite hardy ferns. All are readily available at nurseries, garden centers or online sources.

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Figure A
  • The autumn fern (figure A) is a splendid example of how versatile ferns can be. Its bronze-colored fronds emerge in early spring, then turn green later in the season. And in mild climates--say, USDA Zone 6 and south--the autumn fern is semi-evergreen even during the harshest winters. Autumn ferns are extremely easy to grow and well behaved.
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    Figure B
  • The royal fern (figure B) can grow up to four feet tall. It requires fairly acidic soil and regular watering, but it's otherwise easy to grow.
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    Figure C
  • The cinnamon fern (figure C), which gets its name from the color of its new fronds, is a real showstopper. It too can get rather large--up to three or four feet tall. It grows best in constantly damp soil.
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    Figure D
  • The ostrich fern (figure D) is capable of reaching heights of up to five feet. It also has a tendency to spread via underground runners, especially in the wet, marshy areas it prefers. However, in the landscape it tends to stay in bounds reasonably well.
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    Figure E
  • The Japanese painted fern (figure E) can be a huge hit in the landscape. Its silver fronds and wine-red stems are a departure from the usual green. Colors vary somewhat from plant to plant but all are beautiful. If it's kept well watered during the hot summer months, the Japanese painted fern will last well into late fall.
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    Figure F
  • One of the most delicate of all hardy ferns is the common maidenhair fern (figure F). It's easy to grow, but it must be kept moist at all times, especially in the South. It won't perform well in hot, dry climates, but there are tropical maidenhairs that grow in USDA Zones 9 and 10.
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    Figure G
  • A great performer in the South, however, is the southern wood fern (figure G). It grows to about three feet and can take a fair amount of direct sun, even in the summer.
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    Figure H
  • The male fern, sometimes called the robust male fern (figure H), was once considered rather rare, but it's made a comeback in the last decade and is now easy to find. It's also easy to grow, although it doesn't like to be planted in windy areas.

    Tropical ferns

    • Also in this Episode
    Gardening by the Yard : Episode GBY-1209
    •Gardening Tips and Tricks
    •Fabulous Ferns
    •Training Your Dog Not to Garden