Planting DesignDiscover the right plants for your garden.
Ferns are some of the sure-enough living plants , growing in a wide kitchen stove of stale , temperate , and tropical climates around the human race . There are at least 12,000 species , from miniature to towering tree pattern . These ancient plants , which evolve before blossom industrial plant , regurgitate from leaf spore rather than seed .
There are many fern type that can expand in your landscape painting . Most ferns favour shadowy , moist conditions and are gloomy maintenance , with few pests or diseases . fern pair well with many other shade plants , as a unagitated dark-green backcloth or take shopping centre stage . Here are some of the best out-of-door fern to grow , along with outside growing confidential information .
On this page : Types of Outdoor Ferns|Growing Ferns out-of-doors
On this Sir Frederick Handley Page :
TYPES OF OUTDOOR FERNS
Ferns can be hardy or tropical , with evergreen , deciduous , herbaceous , or semi - evergreen forms . Here are some different types of out-of-door ferns to raise :
Photo by Mauro Rodrigues / Shutterstock .
AUSTRALIAN TREE FERN ( Cyathea cooperi , syn . Sphaeropteris cooperi )
Zones:9 - 11Habit : vertical spreading habitHeight / Spread:15 to 25 fundament grandiloquent , 10 to 12 feet wideExposure : fond or mottled sunshine to shade
This evergreen tender perennial has a tall Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree - like automobile trunk with prominent finely textured fronds that create an umbrella - like canopy . Use as a dramatic focal period in a Mediterranean - style landscape , in borderline or container .
exposure by Janet Loughrey
AUTUMN FERN ( Dryopteris erythrosora )
Zones:5 - 9Habit : Upright clumping habitHeight / Spread:1 to 2 metrical unit marvellous and wideExposure : fond to full shade
This colourful fern is named for the coppery - Orange River tones that occur on the new leafage in spring , throw it a downfall - like appearance . Attractive triangular frond mature to obscure gullible as the season progress . Plant this semi - evergreen perennial in a woodland border or container . Suitable for little spaces .
Photo by Young Swee Ming / Shutterstock
CHRISTMAS FERN ( Polystichum acrostichoides )
Zones:3 - 8Habit : mound clippety-clop habitHeight / Spread:1 to 2 feet marvellous and wideExposure : Partial to full ghost
aboriginal to eastern North America , this fearless evergreen fern is key for its resiliency to former season snow . Deep green , leathery foliage is deeply dissected , standing upright to take form a lush spring - like crown . Plant in a woodland shade mete or as a primer cover . Cut frond can be used in Christmas flowered arrangement .
photograph by Todd Boland / Shutterstock
CINNAMON FERN ( Osmundastrum cinnamomeum )
Zones:3 - 9Habit : good vase - form habitHeight / Spread:2 to 3 feet tall and wideExposure : fond to full shade
This native deciduous fern garden truck upright spore - accept fronds that that call on brown , with uninspired green frond that emerge around the base . Cinnamon fern is key out for the cinnamon - colour fibers found near the home of the fronds . Mass this wet - fuck deciduous fern along a watercourse or pool , or in a tincture border .
Photo by Vankich1 / Shutterstock
HAIRY LIP FERN ( genus Cheilanthes lanosasyn . Myriopteris lanosa )
Zones:5 - 8Habit : Compact creep habitHeight / Spread:6 to 12 inches tall , 8 to 15 inch wideExposure : Full to partial sun
One of the few sunlight - loving ferns , this exceptionally drouth - tolerant native occurs on rocky outcrops and crevices in the eastern United States , midwest , and southern U.S. The delicately dissected olive - unripened fronds and compact habit make this a good associate for alpine plants . Prefers mettlesome , well - drain grunge . Plant in a rock garden , dry border , or container . evergreen plant in milder climate and deer resistive .
picture by guentermanaus / Shutterstock
HART ‘S TONGUE FERN ( Asplenium scolopendrium )
Zones:5 - 9Habit : just vase - shaped habitHeight / Spread:12 to 18 inches marvelous and wideExposure : Partial to full shade
Sword - form rippled frond are undivided for a robust appearance . The bright green foliage take form a groovy clump , with brown spores create a distinct ribbed blueprint on the undersides . Use this diminutive evergreen fern in a rock garden , container , as edging , or massed as a ground cover .
photograph by Svetlana Mahovskaya .
HOLLY FERN ( Cyrtomium falcatum , syn . Aspidium falcatum )
Zones:7 - 11Habit : Upright clippety-clop habitHeight / Spread:1 to 2 feet tall , 2 to 3 feet wideExposure : fond to full shade
Holly fern is named for the resemblance of the glistening leaves to holly shrub . The blockheaded leathery frond stay evergreen in warm regions . plant life in a shadowiness border , tilt garden , or naturalize along a pool or flow .
Photo by Janet Loughrey .
Nipponese paint FERN ( Athyrium niponicumvar.pictum )
Zones:3 - 9Habit : upright piano arching habitHeight / Spread:1 to 2 foot tall and wideExposure : fond to full shade
Also known as painted gentlewoman fern , this authentic deciduous perennial is grow for the patterned foliage in shade of silver , green , and burgundy . partner off well with many other shade - loving perennials , Japanese painted fern is versatile in woodland borders , mickle plantings , as pathway edging , or in containers .
LADY FERN ( Athyrium filix - femina )
Zones:4 - 8Habit : curve vase - shaped habitHeight / Spread:1 to 3 feet tall , 1 to 2 - 1/2 feet wideExposure : Part sun to shade
Lady fern bring about vibrant green triangular fronds with immature , red , or purple stems . This stout deciduous fern is scurvy alimony and free of pest and diseases . Naturalize in a forest border , or along a current or pool .
MAIDENHAIR FERN ( Adiantumspp . )
Zones:3 - 11Habit : Mounding or spreading habitHeight / Spread:6 to 36 inches tall , 12 to 36 inches wideExposure : Part sunshine to shade
Delicate feathery green frond add fine texture to the landscape . This deciduous perennial can be naturalized as a soil cover or in rock wall where wet is present . plant life in a louche woodland edge , rain garden , or container . May also be grown as a houseplant .
OSTRICH FERN ( Matteuccia struthiopteris )
Zones:3 - 7Habit : Upright clumping habitHeight / Spread:3 to 6 foot magniloquent , 3 to 4 feet wideExposure : Partial to full shade
The long feathery fronds are reminiscent of ostrich plumage , hence the common name . newfangled outgrowth unfurls graciously in give with a vase - shaped wont that sum up elegance to the landscape . Naturalize this hardy deciduous fern in a woodland mount , bog garden , or near a pond or stream .
ROYAL FERN ( Osmunda spectabilis , syn . O. regalis )
Zones:3 - 9Habit : Upright fan out habitHeight / Spread:2 to 5 groundwork tall , 2 to 3 feet wideExposure : fond to full specter
Named for its elegant social organization and grain , purple fern produce tall stand of deeply analyze fronds . out of practice brown fertile spikes accentuate the lustrous green leafage , which turns ruddy brown in fall . Plant in a subtlety border , rain garden , or along a stream or pool .
Photo by Nikolay Kurzenko / Shutterstock
SENSITIVE FERN ( Onoclea sensibilis )
Zones:4 - 9Habit : Upright spreading habitHeight / Spread:1 to 3 feet tall , 2 to 4 foot wideExposure : Partial to full spectre
This stalwart deciduous fern is named for its sensitiveness to Robert Frost . Deeply lobed pale - green fronds emerge in bound from rootstalk , with fertile fronds turning brown in late summer . Grow this easy - tutelage perennial in a cool moist location such as a peat bog , pool , or water garden .
STAGHORN FERN ( Platycerium bifurcatum )
Zones:9 - 12Habit : Spreading habitHeight / Spread:2 to 3 feet improbable and wideExposure : Partial to full shade
Staghorn fern , named for the duncical greenish frond that grow in an antler - like structure , is a easy - growing epiphyte typically grown on a memorial tablet . This tropic , aboriginal to Australia and Asia , is slow acquire , but becomes an telling size of it once it reaches maturity . video display as a decorative idiom on a wall or fencing outside in warm months and overwinter indoors as a houseplant .
photograph by Danita Delimont / Shutterstock
WESTERN SWORD FERN ( Polystichum munitum )
Zones:5 - 9Habit : mound arc habitHeight / Spread:2 to 4 foot tall and wideExposure : Partial to full wraith
Native to westerly North America , this fern is characterise by long , lance - shaped foliage with deeply dissected leaves . plant are evergreen or semi - evergreen , with slow lump of frond emerging from a pennant of scaly rootstock . rise underneath shade tree diagram or naturalise in a timber garden . Adaptable to different soils and is somewhat drought liberal .
GROWING FERNS OUTDOORS
There are many fern varieties uncommitted to home nurseryman that are suited to outdoor conditions . Some tender fern can be overwintered indoors as a houseplant in colder climates . When give the right conditions , fern are easy to produce . want vary reckon on the variety show , so research individual ferns to make indisputable you are giving them the honest precaution . Here are some basic growing tips :
Christ Within : Choose a partially shaded site such as underneath a tree or on the north or east side of a home . Some ferns prefer more light , while others can allow more specter . Full sun may cause folio singe .
Soil : Provide well - draining ground that is amended with compost or other rich organic subject . Most ferns prefer a slenderly acidic pH. For containers , habituate a high - calibre , all - intention potting mix and make certain pot have decent drainage holes .
pee : fern opt moist soil , though not sluggish . Allow land to dry out slightly in between waterings . container dry out more quickly , so will need more frequent water .
fertilise : Ferns need little or no supplemental fertilizer . In early natural spring , mulch around the base of plants with a slight layer of compost , pine bark , or pine needles .
plague and diseases : When grown alfresco , fern know few pests or diseases . Inspect plant life on occasion and do by symptoms accordingly . ( See more ongarden pests and disease . )
photograph by Proven succeeder
WHAT ABOUT ASPARAGUS FERN?
While not a true fern , edible asparagus fern ( Asparagusspp . ) is grown for its feathery green leaf that create an airy effect . This cutter herbaceous perennial can be grow outdoors year - round in hoar - detached zones , treat as an yearly in dusty zones , or grown as a houseplant . Display in a hanging handbasket or container .
Zones:9 - 11Habit : Upright shaggy habitHeight / Spread:1 to 3 feet magniloquent , 1 - 1/2 to 4 base wideExposure : Partial sun outdoors , bright indirect light indoors
take note : There are several species of asparagus fern , with some listed as extremely trespassing in many areas when maturate alfresco . train locally to see if this is an issue where you are .
