Twelve types of ferns to cultivate at home:
Ferns, with their intriguing foliage and minimal maintenance, make for an easy pick for any green-thumbed individual. Some fern species, like those from the Dryopteris genus (commonly known as woodland ferns), are the perfect choice for those shady nooks in your garden.
These woodland wonders have a unique charm, with each shoot producing a shuttlecock-like formation of often evergreen leaves. These fine fronds split up into pairs of oppositely arranged leaflets that can be divided further, giving each species its distinct personality. Some woodland ferns even boast colorful amber, brown, or black scales covering their unfurling fronds, or turn attractive autumnal shades before bidding farewell for the season.
Ferns in the woodland family thrive in shaded areas, especially those that also offer a bit of moisture. While they do best in damp soil, many of these species are tough enough to withstand sun and even a dry spell once they've become established.
If you're looking to expand your fern collection beyond woodland varieties, you might want to consider the elegant maidenhair ferns or the ornate Japanese ferns. Discover the best ferns for your unique garden situation below.
How to grow ferns
Ferns are versatile and come in various shapes and sizes to suit most gardens. While some prefer shade, others will gladly grow in the sun. Nearly all ferns thrive in moist but well-drained soil.
Growing Tips for Shade-Loving Ferns
The hard fern (Blechnum spicant) and the shuttlecock fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris), are invaluable in creating a stunning shade garden. Follow these three golden rules outlined by Steven Fletcher of Fernatix to care for them and ensure healthy, feathery foliage.
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Learn how to grow ferns in sun, dry shade, and create a hosta and fern pot display. Explore our list of the best ferns to grow in your garden, catering to a diversity of climates and conditions.
Adiantum venustum
Known as the Himalayan maidenhair fern, this beautiful evergreen variety does well in shade or dappled shade. Its delicate, light green fronds darken as they mature, while providing protection from wind.
Height: 22-38cm
Asplenium scolopendrium
This native to the British Isles evergreen fern needs very little care, beyond a spot of spring tidying. It can often be found growing wild in your local area, making it a reliable choice for your garden.
Height: 45-60cm
Asplenium scolopendrium Crispum Group
A cultivar of Asplenium scolopendrium, Crispum Group, features eye-catching wavy edges that become more pronounced as the plant matures, making it an appealing addition to any shaded garden.
Height: 30-60cm
Athyrium niponicum
This deciduous Japanese fern is flushed with silver and burgundy, making it a unique, eye-catching choice for your garden. Its growth is more prostrate than upright, and it prefers moist soil.
Height: 30-38cm
Dryopteris erythrosora
As its name suggests, the autumn fern, Dryopteris erythrosora, boasts red new growth in the spring, which gradually turns bronze before reaching its green, evergreen state. It requires little maintenance beyond early spring clean-up.
Height: 60cm
Dryopteris wallichiana
In spring, the deciduous fern Dryopteris wallichiana unfurls to produce striking fronds that can reach up to 90cm in height. When planted in a group, this species makes for quite the dramatic display.
Height: 90cm
Matteuccia struthiopteris
The shuttlecock fern, Matteuccia struthiopteris, is not native to the British Isles, but it has been successful in naturalizing in parts of Britain. It puts on a handsome show by sending up bright green 'shuttlecocks' in early spring, followed by tall, feathery fronds. It prefers a moist soil.
Height: 1-1.5m
Onychium japonicum
This delicate fern hailing from Japan, Thailand, and India is known as the carrot fern due to its fine fronds resembling carrot leaves. It is not fully hardy in the UK, but it can survive the winter in an unheated greenhouse.
Height: 10-45cm
Osmunda regalis
Also known as the royal fern, Osmunda regalis is a deciduous fern with a stately appearance, reaching tall heights. Its foliage turns bronze in the autumn. It thrives in damp conditions.
Height: 1.5m
Polystichum polyblepharum
Polystichum polybelpharum is an easy-to-grow, evergreen variety also known as the Japanese tassel fern. The tips of its fronds are adorned with golden hairs, giving it the alternative name of the golden tassel fern.
Height: 45-60cm
Dryopteris filix-mas
One of the toughest ferns, Dryopteris filix-mas, forms dense clumps of deciduous, pointed fronds, thriving in various situations.
Height: 90cm
Dryopteris affinis 'Cristata'
Dryopteris affinis 'Cristata' is a semi-evergreen fern featuring deep green, upright foliage with a crest at the tip of each leaflet.
Height: 1.2m x 1.2m
These stunning fern species, such as the Himalayan maidenhair fern (Adiantum venustum), the shuttlecock fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris), and the Japanese fern (Athyrium niponicum), are perfect additions to your home-and-garden lifestyle, enhancing your gardening endeavors and contributing to the charm of your home-and-garden ambiance with their unique appeal. These ferns, discovered in this list, cater to a variety of shady niches in your garden, creating an inviting, verdant haven.
