Ferns make a stunning and versatile feature for any landscape. Their delicate leaves and lush green fronds provide a touch of class to shaded areas and thrive in the sun that is dappled. Here's what you should learn about planting the best native fern varieties for borders in your garden.
A cinnamon fern is excellent if you want to add a beautiful type of fern to your yard. The cinnamon fern gets its name from the beautiful fronds that grow from the plant. When the frond unfurls, it is a yellowish green.
A lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina) is a native fern found in many parts of Canada and the United States. Its flowers are white, sometimes with a hint of pink. The blooms appear in spring or summer, followed by black berries in the fall. It is a tiny plant that can form dense, low-growing mats and can be difficult to eradicate once established. Because of its clinging, creeping growth habit, lady fern is often used as a ground cover in moist to wet areas such as along the edges of ponds or near a stream.
Many people think of ferns as houseplants, but they are also an excellent choice for your landscaping needs. Ferns come in wide varieties and are easy to grow, even if you aren't known for your green thumb. If your yard is shady, there may be spots where grass doesn't increase, and having fern bushes in those areas will allow you to maintain some greenery rather than fight grass that doesn't want to grow. Also, unlike many other plants, ferns tend to be resistant to common pests and plant diseases and are usually left alone by wildlife -- including deer and rabbits.Â
