Hardy Ferns Perfect For Your Zone

Easy Fern Plants To Grow

Ferns have always brought a natural and luxurious look to garden areas. They thrive in moist, shady areas where many plants cannot grow. Also, the many varieties of fern allow gardeners to choose from different shades of color, leaf shape, and texture. Fern gardens create a lovely effect on your property and require little maintenance.

Christmas Ferns The Christmas fern, Polystichum acrostichoides, is one of the more adaptable types of fern. It can do well in dry areas as well as the most ground. The thick green fronds grow one to two feet long and stay green throughout the year; Christmas fern makes excellent border plants along driveways, sidewalks, and near foundations. The glossy foliage makes it an exciting plant both for indoor and outdoor use.

Ostrich Ferns

Ostrich fern, Matteuccia struthiopteris, is an edible fern for larger areas, where the five-foot leaves can fill in open spaces. The graceful, arched fronds look like enlarged ostrich plumes. This fern can do well in sunny areas if the ground does not completely dry out. It spreads quickly through underground rhizomes but does not invade other garden areas. Ostrich ferns prefer shaded areas and are resistant to some pests and diseases.

Hay Scented Ferns

Dennstaedtia punctilobula, often called hay-scented fern, gets its name from the fronds that smell like new-mown hay. This fern grows well in partially sunny or shady areas. The fronds are oval or oblong with a light, fluffy texture. In summer, this fern provides bright green foliage for residential properties. In fall, the foliage turns a gold or russet color. These ferns are easy to care for and will propagate quickly.

New York Ferns

Thelypteris noveboracensis, or New York fern, is a plant that grows erect, about 1.5 feet high. Fronds are a bright green color, with leaves that taper both at the tip of the frond and the base. New York ferns thrive in shady, wooded areas or anywhere on your property with dense tree cover. It adapts to any soil type and can tolerate some sun if sufficient water is available.

#Hardy Ferns #Ferns #New York Ferns #Ostrich Ferns