Ferns come in an amazing array of texture, color, sizes and shapes. Easy to grow and quite versatile, they add beauty to almost any spot in the garden. While most ferns enjoy part shade or dappled sunlight, there are many which will also perfom well in sunny locations, provided they get enough water. Most ferns are slow growing and may take several years to reach their mature size. Requiring minimal maintenance throughout the year, they offer gardeners plenty of attractive planting options!

Ferns Guides

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).

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 houseplant, it is long lived if it receives sufficient humidity and is not exposed to drafts.

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.

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.

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.

Athyrium Filix-Femina, Female Polypody, Lady Fern, Shade plants, shade perennial, plants for shade, plants for wet soil

Athyrium filix-femina (Lady Fern)

Noted for its vigor and superb elegance, Athyrium filix-femina (Lady Fern) is a lovely deciduous fern forming a large rosette of upright to arching, lacy, lance-shaped, fresh-green fronds. The stems are generally green, but sometimes display a very interesting red hue.

Athyrium niponicum var. pictum 'Burgundy Lace' (Painted Lady Fern)

Athyrium niponicum var. pictum 'Burgundy Lace' (Japanese Painted Fern) is a dramatic deciduous fern forming a lacy rosette of arching, lance-shaped fronds, flushed with rich burgundy-purple as they emerge. They gradually mature to silvery-green, but retain their purple mid-ribs and silvery sheen. Delicate, graceful but tough, this elegant fern is perfect for enlivening a shady garden area.

Athyrium niponicum var. pictum 'Metallicum' (Painted Lady Fern)

Truly ornamental, Athyrium niponicum var. pictum 'Metallicum' (Japanese Painted Fern) is a very elegant deciduous fern forming a pretty rosette of arching, strikingly refined, lance-shaped, bipinnate fronds. The fronds are silvery gray, almost metallic, with green highlights and subtle burgundy veination.

Athyrium niponicum var. pictum 'Pewter Lace' (Painted Lady Fern)

Athyrium niponicum var. pictum 'Pewter Lace' (Japanese Painted Fern) is a dramatic deciduous fern forming a lacy rosette of arching, lance-shaped, dark pewter fronds with contrasting bright silver-green edges and coral-red mid-ribs. This elegant fern is tolerant of heat and humidity.

Athyrium niponicum var. pictum 'Regal Red' (Painted Lady Fern)

Athyrium niponicum var. pictum 'Silver Falls' (Painted Lady Fern)

Noted for its superb silver fronds and long-lasting color, Athyrium niponicum var. pictum 'Silver Falls' (Japanese Painted Fern) is a very elegant deciduous fern forming a large rosette of arching, strikingly refined, lance-shaped, bipinnate fronds.

Athyrium niponicum var. pictum (Painted Lady Fern)

Noted for its superb elegance, Athyrium niponicum var. pictum (Japanese Painted Fern) is a very pretty deciduous fern forming a large rosette of arching, strikingly refined, lance-shaped, bipinnate fronds.

Blechnum spicant (Hard Fern)

Noted for its unique and distinctive type of fronds, Blechnum spicant (Hard Fern) is a charming, tufted, evergreen fern with interesting foliage texture. While its evergreen sterile fronds spread horizontally from a basal tuft, to form a neat arching mound of finely cut foliage, its fertile fronds rise straight up above this mound before drying out and withering away in fall.

Dryopteris erythrosora 'Brilliance' (Autumn Fern)

Dryopteris erythrosora 'Brilliance' (Autumn Fern) is an evergreen fern with strikingly orange-red new fronds in spring, which contrast beautifully with the shiny, dark green, mature fronds. Fading to lustrous summer green as the season progresses, the bipinnate, triangular blades draw attention again in fall with their bright red ripe spores (sori) on their undersides.

Dryopteris filix-mas (Male Fern)

Dryopteris filix-mas (Male Fern) is a large, deciduous fern with erect, stout rhizomes supporting graceful bouquets of lance-shaped, dull green fronds. Tapering at the base, each frond (blade) is pinnate-pinnatifid with 20-30 pairs of long-pointed leaflets per blade. Turning coppery in fall, this most adaptable and robust fern thrives on neglect and is pest and disease free.