Fantastic Ferns and How To Grow Them
Dan Schuknecht- Olbrich Botanical Gardens
Adiantum pedatum/Maidenhair Fern Native to Eastern North America. Will grow in a range of soils but will be most luxurious in moist, rich, neutral to alkaline soil. Part shade to shade. 12-30” x 12-18”Z3-8
Arachniodes standishii/ Upside-down Fern Native to Japan. The heavily veined pinnae and arching habit make the fronds appear to be inverted. Prefers light shade and medium moisture. 12-24” x 36” Z4-8
Athyrium filix-femina/ Lady Fern A circumglobal species found throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. Lacy light green fronds grow in a dense shuttlecock. Will tolerate drier soils than many ferns, and will tolerate full sun with consistent moisture. Prefers part shade to shade, and protection from wind. 12-36” x 12-24” Z4-8
Athyrium filix-femina ‘Victoriae’ Cultivar from the Victorian pteridomania era. 18-24” x 18-24” Z4-8
Athyrium filix-femina “Dre’s Dagger” Highly ornamental dwarf form of Lady Fern with distinctive crested fronds. 18” x 18” Z4-8
Athyrium filix-femina 'Frizelliae‘/ Tatting Fern Found in Ireland in 1857. Evenly moist. Part-full shade. 6-12” x 6-12” Z4-8 Athyrium filix-femina var. angustum “Lady In Red” Species found throughout northern North America, Europe, and Asia, subspecies angustum ranges from Greenland to South Dakota. Lacy light green fronds contrast with burgundy stipes. Will tolerate drier soils than many ferns, and will tolerate sun with consistent moisture. Prefers Part shade- shade, and protection from wind. 18-24” x 24-30” Z3-8 Athyrium niponicum var. pictum/ Japanese Painted Fern Native to eastern Asia. A highly decorative and easy to grow fern. Prefers consistent moisture in organically rich soil. Spreads by rhizome and will form large clumps over time. Color will be most intense with morning sun. 12-18” x 18-24” Z3-8
Athyrium niponicum/Branford Beauty A hybrid between Lady Fern and Japanese Painted Fern. A mid-sized fern with silvery pinnae on red stems. Grows in moist soils in part shade to shade. Will spread over time to form a clump. 18-24” x 18-24” Z4-8
Dryopteris Carthusiana/ Spinulose Wood Fern Native to Northern temperate regions. Deciduous, prefers moist, humusy, acidic soils with protection from wind.24-36” x 24-36” Z3-8
Dryopteris intermedia/ Evergreen Wood Fern Native to Eastern North America. Grows in average, medium moisture soils in part shade to shade. Prefers consistent moisture and protection from high winds. 12-12” x 12- 24”Z5-8
Dryopteris crassirhizoma/ Thick-stemmed Wood Fern Native to Northeastern Asia, prefers moist rich soil with medium moisture. Part-full shade. 24-42”x 24-36” Z5-8
Dryopteris cycadina/Shaggy Wood Fern Native to Japan, China, and Malaysia. Typically grows in a stiff vase shape, with stems appearing black. Grows in average, medium moisture soils. Part shade to shade. 24-30” x 24-30” Z5-8
Dryopteris goldiana/ Goldie’s Wood Fern Native to Eastern North America. One of the larger hardy ferns. Prefers rich moist soil in bright shade. 36-48“ x 48-60“ Z3-7 Dryopteris erythrosora/ Autumn Fern or Japanese Shield Fern Native to East Asia. Prefers average, medium to wet and slightly acidic soil. New fronds uncurl in orange/copper/pink shades. Part shade-shade. 18-30” x 18-30”Z5-8
Dryopteris filix-mas/ Male Fern Native to North America. Easily grown, preferring moist humusy soils with consistent moisture. Part-full shade24-36” x 24-36”Z4-8 Dryopteris marginalis/Marginal Wood Fern Native to North America. Prefers moist, rich, humusy, acidic soils with protection from wind. Part-full shade18-24” x 18-24”Z3-8
Matteucia struthiopteris/ Ostrich Fern Native to Europe, East Asia, and Eastern North America. A large native, it will quickly spread to fill space. Fiddle heads are edible. Average, medium to wet soils. Part shade to shade. 24-36”x 24-36”Z3-7 Onoclea sensibilis/ Sensitive Fern Native to Eastern North America. Sensitive to drought and frost. Will spread by spore and rhizome. Requires consistently moist soils. 36-48”x 36-48” Z4-8 Osmunda cinnamomea/ Cinnamon Fern Common throughout eastern North America, in mostly wet areas. A large and very ornamental native. Medium to wet soil, part shade –full shade. 24-36” x 24-36” Z3-9 Osmunda claytoniana/ Interrupted Fern Native to North America as well as Himalaya and China. Prefers rich, moist, humusy soils that are wet, but will tolerate other conditions. Part shade to shade. 24-36” x 24-36” Z3-8 Osmunda regalis/ Royal Fern Native to all seven continents (!), according to the Petersen Field Guide. A large fern, with widely separated leaflets giving it the appearance of a legume at close range. Strongly upright. Prefers acidic, medium to wet conditions in part shade to shade, but is adaptable. Will grow in sunny places with consistent moisture. 24-36” x 24-36”Z3-9 Polystichum acrostichoides/ Christmas Fern Native to Eastern North America. Leathery, lance-shaped fronds remain semi-evergreen. Will grow in dryish, rocky soils. Part shade to shade. 12- 24” x 12- 24” Z3-9 Thelypteris decursive-pinnata (Phegopteris decursive-pinnata)/ Japanese Beech Fern Native to Japan, China, and Taiwan. A vigorous, upright fern. Best in moist, rich, slightly acidic soil in part shade. Soil should not be allowed to dry out. 12-24” x 12-18” Z4-9
More and better information: Mickel, J.T. Ferns for American Gardens. 2003, Timber Press
Olsen, S. Encyclopedia of Garden Ferns. 2007, Timber Press
Jones, D. L. Encyclopedia Of Ferns. 1987, Timber Press https://www.uwgb.edu/biodiversity/herbarium/pteridophytes/fern_list01.htm https://www.amerfernsoc.org/ http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/plantfinder/plantfindersearch.aspx http://www.fancyfrondsnursery.com/ferns http://www.casaflora.com/plant-search/ https://www.chicagobotanic.org/downloads/planteval_notes/no39_ferns.pdf