Ferns

This collection features hardy ferns for shade gardens, including native wood ferns, cinnamon and royal ferns, lady ferns, and glade fern, along with a few selections grown for colorful fronds.

They range from knee-high clumps to ferns that reach four feet or more in moist sites.

Most hardy ferns prefer partial to full shade. Morning sun is fine for many, but hot afternoon sun scorches fronds unless the soil is consistently moist.

Dappled light under deciduous trees is ideal and mimics their natural woodland habitat.

Ferns thrive in moist, well-draining soil rich in organic matter. Leaf mold, compost, or shredded bark worked into the planting area helps hold moisture without waterlogging.

Cinnamon and royal ferns tolerate wet ground and suit pond edges and rain gardens, while wood ferns handle drier shade once established.

Hardy ferns are generally deer-resistant and are a good choice for shaded areas where hostas get eaten. Rabbits also tend to leave them alone.

This makes ferns a dependable backbone planting for woodland gardens with wildlife pressure.

Most hardy ferns are deciduous and die back to the ground after frost, returning in spring with tightly coiled fiddleheads. Some wood ferns hold semi-evergreen fronds through mild winters.

Leave old fronds in place over winter to protect the crown, then cut them away as new growth emerges.

Water regularly through the first season and keep a layer of mulch or leaf litter over the roots. Established ferns need little beyond consistent moisture during dry spells.

Fertilizer is rarely needed; an annual top-dressing of compost is plenty.