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Plant Types / Ferns


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Ferns

Ferns add beauty to almost any spot in the garden!

Ferns are an ancient and diverse group of plants that have been around for more than 300 million years. They are valued for their graceful fronds and delicate foliage that add a touch of elegance to any garden or indoor space. With over 12,000 species of ferns, they come in a wide range of shapes, sizes, and textures, making them a popular choice for many different gardening styles.

  • Ferns are mostly grown for their foliage, which can range from bright green to deep burgundy and even silver. They are an excellent choice for shaded areas and are particularly well-suited for woodland gardens. Many ferns are also easy to grow and require little maintenance, making them ideal for busy gardeners.
  • One of the key benefits of ferns is their ability to purify the air, as they are known to remove harmful toxins and pollutants. They are also useful for creating a peaceful and calming environment and are a popular choice for indoor spaces such as offices and living rooms.
  • Ferns can be grown in a variety of different settings, including containers, hanging baskets, and garden beds. They prefer moist, well-drained soil and thrive in areas with high humidity. Many ferns can also be propagated easily by division, making them an economical choice for gardeners.
  • Some popular types of ferns include the Boston fern, which has delicate, lacy fronds and is a popular choice for hanging baskets and indoor decor. The maidenhair fern is another popular variety, known for its delicate, fan-shaped leaves and its ability to thrive in low-light conditions. Other ferns, such as the ostrich fern and the royal fern, are prized for their dramatic height and can add a bold statement to any garden.

In summary, ferns are a versatile and beautiful group of plants that are well-suited for a wide range of gardening styles and settings. With their graceful fronds, delicate foliage, and air-purifying benefits, they are a popular choice for anyone looking to add a touch of elegance and tranquility to their home or garden.

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Acrostichum danaeifolium (Giant Leather Fern)

Acrostichum danaeifolium (Giant Leather Fern) is an evergreen fern adorned with very tall, erect to arching, pinnately divided fronds. Up to 12 ft. long (360cm), the fronds are deep green above, paler beneath. Incredibly showy, the fertile fronds are densely coated with reddish to cinnamon spore cases, giving the plant a bi-color appearance. Native to Florida, Giant Leather Fern occurs naturally in brackish and freshwater marshes of the central and southern peninsula.

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Adiantum aleuticum (Maidenhair Fern)

Incredibly attractive, Adiantum aleuticum (Maidenhair Fern) is a deciduous or semi-evergreen, perennial fern with graceful, bright green fronds which open like the fingers of a hand atop upright, shiny, purple-black wiry stems. Each finger is further divided into a series of triangular segments (pinnules).

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Adiantum capillus-veneris (Southern Maidenhair Fern)

Adiantum capillus-veneris (Southern Maidenhair Fern) is a slowly spreading, semi-evergreen fern forming a mound of gently arching or pendant, twice divided, delicate fronds adorned with wiry, black stems.

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Adiantum jordanii (California Maidenhair)

Adiantum jordanii (California Maidenhair) is a slowly spreading, evergreen fern forming a fountain of gently arching or pendant, twice divided, delicate fronds adorned with wiry, dark brown to black stems. The light green leaflets are round or fan-shaped, slightly lobed, and finely toothed. The fronds arise in clusters from a short creeping rhizome. California Maidenhairn is an excellent choice for the woodland garden.

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Adiantum pedatum (Northern Maidenhair Fern)

One of the most sought-after ferns, Adiantum pedatum (Northern Maidenhair Fern) is a deciduous perennial fern with handsome, black shiny stems and graceful, bright green fronds spreading horizontally in a circular pattern.

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Adiantum raddianum (Delta Maidenhair)

Elegant and fast-growing, Adiantum raddianum (Delta Maidenhair) is a tufted evergreen fern with smooth, purplish-black stalks bearing triangular, 3-pinnate, lacy fronds composed of rounded, fan-shaped segments. Emerging light green, they darken with age and can reach 18 in. in length (45 cm). Popular as a houseplant, it is long-lived if it receives sufficient humidity and is not exposed to drafts.

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Adiantum venustum (Himalayan Maidenhair)

Incredibly attractive, Adiantum venustum (Himalayan Maidenhair) is a deciduous fern, almost evergreen in mild areas, with broadly triangular fronds composed of many small fan-shaped segments. Emerging in late winter to early spring, the new fronds display a charming salmon flush before maturing to fresh spring green.

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Asplenium bulbiferum (Hen and Chickens Fern)

Asplenium bulbiferum (Hen and Chickens Fern) is a tufted evergreen fern with gracefully arching, finely divided, light green fronds bearing bulbils at their tips. These plantlets will eventually weigh the frond down, fall off when they reach 2 in. (5 cm), and grow into new ferns after they touch the moist soil.

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Asplenium montanum (Mountain Spleenwort)

Asplenium montanum (Mountain Spleenwort) is an evergreen fern forming a pretty rosette of drooping, delicate, blue-green fronds. Lanceolate to deltate, they feature 4-10 pairs of pinnae with incised margins and a rounded apex. They are pinnate at the base of the rachis, and pinnatifid at the top of the rachis. The rachis is green and slightly pubescent with glandular hairs.

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Asplenium nidus (Bird's Nest Fern)

Asplenium nidus (Bird's Nest Fern) is an evergreen fern forming a remarkable rosette of broadly lance-shaped, glossy, bright green fronds adorned with contrasting dark midribs and wavy margins. Unusual for a fern, the fronds are undivided, giving the plant a substantial appearance.

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Asplenium platyneuron (Ebony Spleenwort)

Asplenium platyneuron (Ebony Spleenwort) is an evergreen fern forming a pretty rosette of slender, pinnate fronds that are either fertile or sterile. The semi-evergreen fertile fronds are erect to arching, 1-2 ft. long (30-60 cm), dark green, with short, alternate pinnae below and longer, opposite pinnae above. They are the first to emerge in spring.

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Asplenium scolopendrium (Hart's Tongue Fern)

Noted for the straight, pure line of its fronds and its tropical appearance, Asplenium scolopendrium (Hart's Tongue Fern) is an evergreen fern forming a pretty rosette of arching, strap-shaped, bright green fronds. Unusual for a fern, the fronds are undivided, giving the plant a substantial appearance. They remain lush and fresh-looking throughout the year.

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Asplenium trichomanes (Maidenhair Spleenwort)

One of the finest miniature ferns, award-winning Asplenium trichomanes (Maidenhair Spleenwort) is an evergreen fern forming a pretty rosette of long, slender, tapering fronds adorned with glossy black stems boasting many small, rounded or oblong, bright green pinnae. It remains lush and fresh-looking throughout the year.

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Athyrium 'Ghost' (Lady Fern)

Noted for its strong vase shape with distinctly upright fronds, Athyrium Ghost' (Lady Fern) is an elegant deciduous fern forming a pretty rosette of arching, ghostly silvery gray fronds accented by contrasting dark red-purple midribs. Slowly spreading, this fern is easy to grow and lovely when paired with hostas and heucheras.

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Athyrium filix-femina 'Frizelliae' (Tatting Fern)

Unique, Athyrium filix-femina 'Frizelliae' (Tatting Fern) is a small deciduous fern forming a tuft of erect or arching, narrow fronds adorned with reduced leaflets giving the appearance of a necklace of green beads.

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