They are excellent for naturalizing, and will reward the gardener with their graceful texture year after year. Taking care of outdoor ferns is so easy that you often forget that they are there. Planting a fern garden outdoors requires minimal attention other than regular mulching and water during very dry periods.įew pests bother ferns other than the passing slug, which will devour nearly anything.ĭivide ferns in early spring when they become too large.

Ferns will grow where other plants fail to thrive and most do well in rich, well-drained soil with an abundance of organic matter. This interesting fern likes light to full shade and very wet soil.įerns are extremely forgiving and have an incredibly strong survival instinct. Male fern – The male fern is an evergreen fern that is shaped like a vase and will grow up to 5 feet (1.5 m.).This fern grows slowly but is well worth the wait. Christmas fern – Christmas fern is a popular fern in the southeast, where it is evergreen.This fern is known for the year-round interest it adds to any shady garden and prefers very wet soil. Foliage turns a coppery pink color in the spring, green in the summer and copper in the fall. The group includes about 10,560 known extant species. Autumn fern – Autumn fern is a semi-evergreen fern and has arching fronds.Lady fern – Lady fern is drought tolerant, grows up to 3 feet (.9 m.), and has a beautiful upright habit.This makes them excellent foils for hostas, heucheras, hellebores, carex, wild ginger, and other plants in the. Newly unfurled fronds shimmer orange, copper, bronze, and pink before turning deep green in summer. This fern is very delicate in appearance despite its hardiness. It is a low maintenance fern that withstands full shade is resistant to browsing by rabbits. Native to Asia, autumn fern ( Dryopteris erythrosora) gets its name from the way its foliage transforms spring into fall. Southern maidenhair fern – Southern maidenhair fern is a hardy spreading plant that will survive in a wider range of soil conditions, including rocks and acidic soils.There are a number of outdoor ferns to choose from with the following being the most common: Fall Fern Leaves - Fall Flowers - Silk Fern Autumn Leaves - Silk Floral Stems -P (7.5k) 4.15.

While many types of hardy garden ferns are deciduous, some are evergreen. Learning how to take care of ferns depends mostly on the type you grow. Ferns make excellent companions for woodland plantings like hosta, columbine, liriope, and caladiums. This hardiness also makes taking care of outdoor ferns simple. Garden ferns that are tolerant of winter temperatures can be grown year round in gardens throughout the United States.Ī large number of ferns will withstand both the winter cold and summer heat, which makes them particularly useful in the shady southern landscape. Autumn fern Autumn fern is a semi-evergreen fern and has arching fronds. Although we are most accustomed to seeing graceful ferns throughout woodlands and forests where they nestle under tree canopies, they are equally attractive when used in the shady home garden.

Fall fern