Ferns
Written by: Wanda Simone | Last Updated: May 8, 2024
With their lacy leaves, Ferns add a lush, tropical feel to any shade garden. There are so many varieties available that you are sure to find some that are hardy in your gardening zone, grow to the right size for your space and are native, low maintenance plants.
Plant snapshot
Scientific name: Ferns
Plant type: perennial
Zone: 2 to 11
Exposure: part shade, shade
Height: 6″ to 72″
Width: 12″ to 60″
From miniature 6″ plants to large 6 foot giants, there are so many varieties of ferns that you are sure to find some that will thrive in your garden.
And many of them are native varieties which are really easy to grow since they are so well adapted to the climate.
While most ferns prefer shaded areas, you can find some that grow in full sun.
You can also find some with evergreen leaves (such as the Christmas Fern) and some that have beautiful fall colors (like the Autumn Fern).
And while they don’t bloom, some varieties (such as the Cinnamon Fern) have interesting spore fronds (that carry the seeds).
The one thing that they all have in common? They need consistent moisture.
Ferns characteristics
Ferns Foliage
Leaf color: green
Leaf shape: lacy
Foliage interest: evergreen, fall colors
Ferns planting & care
Water: likes consistently moist but not wet soil
Fertilizing: Ferns in the garden do not need fertilizing. You can put some compost down around them to improve the soil if desired and mulch well to keep the soil moist.
Ferns benefits & issues
Resistant to: heat
Landscaping uses: ground cover
Growth habit: naturalizes, easy to grow, spread by rhizomes
More information
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