Ferns: Adiantum
Adiantum pedatum
Northern Maidenhair Fern
The daintiest of all native ferns and a must for every collection. This deciduous fern is extremely cold hardy and easy to grow despite its fragile appearance. New croziers unfold into bright green fan-like fronds on black, wiry stipes. In humus-rich, moist soil it spreads by shallow rhizomes to form a dense groundcover.
HARDY TO
USDA Zones 3-9
EXPOSURE:
Part Shade to Full Shade
HEIGHT/SPREAD
1-2' tall
2-4' wide
SOIL TYPE
Humus-rich, moist, well drained
Ferns: athyrium
Athyrium angustum forma 'Lady in Red '
Athyrium angustum forma 'Lady in Red '
Athyrium angustum forma 'Lady in Red '
'Lady in Red' Lady Fern
Vibrant burgundy stipes paired with bright, green fronds makes this easy to grow fern a standout in the garden. Introduced by the New England Wildflower Society. Lovely paired with burgundy heuchera foliage.
HARDY TO
USDA Zones 3-8
EXPOSURE
Part Shade to Full Shade
HEIGHT/SPREAD
2-3' tall/1-2' wide
SOIL TYPE
Moist, well drained
PROPAGATION
Divide mature plants in the spring.
Collect mature spores in midsummer
to early fall.
Athyrium filix-femina
Athyrium angustum forma 'Lady in Red '
Athyrium angustum forma 'Lady in Red '
Northern Lady Fern
A deciduous native with feathery, light-green, arching fronds.
Great in flower arrangements.
HARDY TO
USDA Zones 4-8
EXPOSURE
Part Sun to Full Shade
HEIGHT/SPREAD
2 to 3' tall
15 to 18" wide
SOIL TYPE
Rich, moist & well drained
PROPAGATION
Divide mature plants in the spring.
Collect mature yellow spores
in midsummer to early fall.
Athyrium filix-femina ‘ Victoria’
'Victoria' Lady Fern
A superior cultivar with spectacular frond architecture. Pinnae crisscross to form x's and are crested at the tips. This deciduous, deer resistant lady fern was the pride and joy of the Victorian fern craze.
HARDY TO
USDA Zones 4-9
EXPOSURE
Part Sun to Full Shade
HEIGHT/SPREAD
1 to 2' tall
1 to 2' wide
SOIL TYPE
Rich, moist & well drained
PROPAGATION
Divide mature plants in spring.
Collect mature spores
in midsummer to early fall.
Athyrium niponicum ‘ Pictum’
Japanese Painted Fern
The 2004 Perennial Plant of the Year. A very showy, low maintenance shade plant with soft shades of metallic silver-gray and hints of red & blue.
HARDY TO
USDA Zones 3-9
EXPOSURE
Part Shade to Full Shade
HEIGHT/SPREAD
20" tall/2-3' wide
SOIL TYPE
Moist, well drained
PROPAGATION
Divide mature clumps in early spring.
Collect mature brown spores in summer.
ferns: dryopteris
Dryopteris carthusian
Spinulose Wood Fern
Native, deciduous fern with narrow, finely-divided, lacy fronds with strongly toothed margins. Appears early in the spring & forms a
vase-like cluster. Pest and disease free.
HARDY TO
USDA Zones 3-7
EXPOSURE
Part Shade to Full Shade
HEIGHT/SPREAD
2 to 3' tall
2 to 4' wide
SOIL TYPE
Acidic, humus-rich, moist, well drained
Dryopteris dilata Recurvata
Curved Broad Buckler Fern
Attractive, deciduous fern with broad, triangular, deeply divided fronds on long scaly stalks. It prefers moist woodlands or a shady spot
next to a pond. It has shield-shaped coverings on the sori.
HARDY TO
USDA Zones 4-8
EXPOSURE
Part Shade to Full Shade
HEIGHT/SPREAD
1-2' tall
2' wide
SOIL TYPE
Rich, moist & well drained
Dryopteris 'Goldiana'
Goldies Fern
This is the largest of the native wood ferns reaching 4 to 5' in cool shade. It is stately and a slow spreader, forming huge clusters of graceful arching bright green fronds. Its straw-colored leaf stalks are thick and scaly.Goldiana requires consistent moisture and makes a bold statement
in the woodland garden!
HARDY TO
USDA Zones 3-8
EXPOSURE
Part Shade to Full Shade
HEIGHT/SPREAD
4 to 5' tall
2 to 3' wide
SOIL TYPE
Rich, moist & well drained
Dryopteris undulata Robusta
Dryopteris undulata Robusta
Robust Male Fern
Semi-evergreen, deeply divided, dark green fronds create a sturdy, upright habit. Its graceful, arching fronds make it great for naturalizing.
It can also be used for erosion control on steep banks and hills. Add compost yearly.
HARDY TO
USDA Zones 4-8
EXPOSURE
Part Shade to Full Shade
HEIGHT/SPREAD
2 to 3 feet tall
3 to 4 feet wide
SOIL TYPE
Moist, humus-rich, acidic soil
Dryopteris tokyoensis
Dryopteris undulata Robusta
Dryopteris tokyoensis
Tokyo Wood Fern
An easy to grow, deciduous fern with upright, narrow fronds that provide a vertical accent
in the woodland border. Vase-shaped clumps are very showy and can be divided in spring or fall.
HARDY TO
USDA Zones 5-8
EXPOSURE
Light Shade to Full Shade
HEIGHT/SPREAD
1-3' tall
1-3'' wide
SOIL TYPE
Moist & well drained
Fern: Gymnocarpium
Gymnocarpium dryopteris
Oak Fern
The Oak Fern never grows more than a foot tall, spreading slowly to form a drift of delicate, greenish-gold fronds. It is perfect for mixing with low growing spring woodland wildflowers like trillium, Virginia bluebells and Jack in the pulpit. Deer Resistant.
HARDY TO
USDA Zones 3-6
EXPOSURE
Light Shade to Full Shade
HEIGHT/SPREAD
6" to 1' tall
1 to 2' wide
SOIL TYPE
Well drained, compost-rich, moist sand or loam
Hemionitis
Hemionitis arifolia
Heart Leaf Fern
This dwarf fern is dependent on shade and high humidity
thus suitable for a terrarium or fairy garden where it reveals it's full potential.
It's glossy dark green heart-shaped leaves grow from 2 to 3" in length on blackish, wiry stems.
The tropical habitat this fern is used to in Southeast Asia is a moist, humid environment with bright, indirect sun to shade, usually found growing on the forest floor.
Temperatures range from low 60s to mid 80s, depending on time of year.
HARDY TO
Houseplant
EXPOSURE
Part Sun to Full Shade
HEIGHT/SPREAD
6 to 10" tall
SOIL TYPE
Moist & well drained; prefers a pH level of 5.0 to 6.5 (acidic)
Nephrolepis
Nephrolepis cordifolia 'Lemon Button'
Lemon Button Fern
A great beginner plant – this fern prefers evenly moist soil and air that is not dry (increase humidity if necessary). Provide warm temperatures of 60 ° F and above. Fertilize monthly in early spring and again in summer with a water-soluble fertilizer (20-20-20) mixed at ½ the recommended strength. This houseplant can summer outdoors in a shady spot. The Lemon Button fern does well in a terrarium.
HARDY TO
Houseplant
EXPOSURE
Bright, indirect or filtered light
HEIGHT/SPREAD
1' tall
1 to 2' wide
SOIL TYPE
Moist & well drained
Ferns: Matteuccia
Matteucia struthiopteris
Ostrich Fern
A clump-forming, rhizomatous, upright native deciduous fern with feathery fronds. Fiddleheads are edible. Excellent for large woodland drifts or great in a pot.
HARDY TO
USDA Zones 2-10
EXPOSURE
Part Sun to Full Shade
HEIGHT/SPREAD
3 to 4' tall
2 to 3' wide
SOIL TYPE
Rich, moist & well drained
Ferns: Phlebodium
Phlebodium aureum
Blue Star Fern, Hare-foot Fern
Phlebodium aureum is a tender, evergreen fern popularly grown as a houseplant
that can be moved outdoors in summer. It’s native to tropical regions of South America, North America and the Caribbean where it grows as an epiphyte. It bears beautiful, blue-green fronds that emerge from the creeping rhizomes, which have a furry appearance. It prefers a bright spot out of any direct sun,
in moist, well-drained soil. Keep a spray bottle handy so you can give it a regular misting
to raise the humidity. Water regularly.
HARDY TO
Houseplant
EXPOSURE
Dappled Shade, Part Shade to Full Shade
HEIGHT/SPREAD
3 to 4' tall
1 to 2' wide
SOIL TYPE
Rich, moist & well drained