Guide To Hardy Ferns
KEY:
(D) = Deciduous
(E) = Evergreen or Usually Evergreen
(N) = Native & Northeast America
LIST OF HARDY GARDEN FERNS
| Name {Common/Botanical} | Size | Color/Foliage | Culture/Hardiness |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Maidenhair Fern (N) (Adiannum pedatum) |
12 - 18" | Medium, green circular fronds | Shade; avg./moist soil zones 4-8 (D) |
| Dark Maidenhair Spleenwort (N) (Asplenium adiantum-nigrum) |
8 -18" | Very dark fronds | Shade; avg.-humus soil; rocks; zone 4-8 (D) |
| Scott's or Dragon Tail Spleenwort (N) (Asplenium ebenoides) |
10 - 20" | Med. green fronds | Shade; avg.-humus/rocks zone 4-8 (E) |
| Ebony Spleenwort (N) (Asplenium platyneuran) |
10 - 20" | Dark green fronds | Shade; humus/rocks zones 4-8 (E) |
| Hart's Tongue Fern (N) (Asplenium scolopendrium) |
Column 2 Value 5 | Column 3 Value 5 | Column 4 Value 5 |
| Lady Fern (N) (Athyrium filix-femina) |
2 - 3 ' | lt. green, fine lacy fronds | Sun (w/moist) or shade (avg. - moist) |
| Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum') |
12 - 18" | Silver-green fronds w/ purple | Shade; avg. - humus soils zones 4 - 8 (D) |
| English Painted Fern (Athyrium otophorum) |
12 - 18" | Silver-green fronds w/ purple | Shade; avg. - humus soils zones 4 - 7 (D) |
| Deer Fern (Blechnum sp. 'Incisa') |
8 - 10" | Arching dk. green, serrated blades | Shade; avg. - humus soils zones 5 - 8 (E) |
| Japanese Holly Fern (Cyrtomium falc. 'Rochfordianum') |
8 - 15" | Medium green holly-like fronds | Shade; avg. - humus soils zones 6 - 8 (D) |
| Berry Bladder Fern (N) (Cystopteris bulbifera) |
12 - 30" | Pendant green fronds; spreader | Shade; humus/moist soils rocks; zones 4-8 (D) |
| Hay-scented Fern (N) (Dennstaedtia punctilobula) |
18 - 30" | Yellow-green fronds | Sun/Shade avg. / moist soils; zones 3 - 8 (D) |
| Crisp Male Fern (N) (Dryopteris aff. 'Crispa') |
6" | Dwarf, crinkled fronds; rock gardens | Shade. Avg. - humus soils zones 4 - 8 (D) |
| Shaggy Shield Fern (N) (Dryopteris atrata) |
18 - 24" | Wide green fronds | Shade; humus soils zone 4 - 8 (D) |
| Spinulose Wood Fern (N) (Dryopteris austriaca spinulosa) |
18 - 30" | Deep green fronds | Shade; humus/moist soils zones 4 - 8 (D) |
| Crested Shield or Wood Fern (N) (Dryopteris cristata) |
24 - 30" | Deep green, ladder-like fronds | Sun (moist) or shade (humus/moist soil) zones 3 - 8 (D) |
| Recurved Broad Buckler Fern (Dryopteris dilatata 'Recurvata') |
24 - 42" | Graceful, wide recurved fronds | Shade; avg. - humus soils zones 4 - 8 (D) |
| Japanese Sword Fern (Dryopteris erythrosora) |
15 - 18" | Reddish-copper new leaves; dark green fronds later | Shade; avg. - moist soil zones 5 - 8 (D) |
| Shield Fern (N) (Dryopteris filix-mas 'Cristata') |
2 - 4' | Medium green crested fronds | Shade; humus soils zones 5 - 8 (D) |
| Goldie's Woodfern (N) (Dryopteris goldiana) |
2 - 4' | Tall, medium green fronds | Shade; humus or moist soil zones 4 - 8 (D) |
| Leather Wood Fern (N) (Dryopteris marginalis) |
15 - 24" | Dark green fronds | Shade; humus soil zone 3 - 8 (D) |
| Ostrich Fern (N) (Matteuccia pennsylvania) |
3 - 5' | Tall, medium green fronds; upright | Lt - full shade; moist/bog zones 3 - 8 (D) |
| Sensitive Fern (N) (Onoclea sensibilis) |
15 - 24" | Coarse, lt. green spreader | Sun-shade; moist/bog zones 4 - 8 (D) |
| Cinnamon Fern (N) (Osmunda cinnamomea) |
2 - 4' | Large medium green fronds; showy | Shade; humus or moist/bog zones 3 - 8 (D) |
| Interrupted Fern (Osmunda claytoniana) |
2 - 4' | Large medium green fronds | Shade; humus soils zone 3 - 8 (D) |
| Royal Fern (N) (Osmunda regalis) |
2 - 4' | Bronze, medium green/tall fronds | Sun/part shade; moist/bog, zones 3 - 8 (D) |
| Northern Beech Fern (N) (Phegopteris connectilis) |
8 - 20" | Thin, pale green fronds | Shade; humus soils zones 4 - 8 (D) |
| Polypody (Polypodium interjectum) |
12 - 24" | Broad, leathery fronds | Lt. shade; humus soils zone 4 - 8 |
| Common Polypody (N) (Polypodium vulgare) |
4 - 16" | Erect, leathery fronds | Lt. shade; humus soils zones 4 - 8 |
| Christmas Fern (N) (Polystichum acrostichoides) |
15 - 30" | Dark green fronds clumps | Shade; avg. - moist zones 3 - 8 (E) |
| Braun's Holly Fern (N) (Polystichum braunii) |
18 - 24" | Silver new leaves green fronds | Shade; avg. - humus soils zones 4 - 8 (D) |
| Tassel Fern (Polystichum polyblepharum) |
1 - 2' | Glossy dark green fronds | Shade; avg. - humus soils zones 5 - 8 (E) |
| Korean Rock Fern (Polystichum tsus-simense) |
10 - 15" | Dark green fronds; compact | Shade; avg. moist zones 5 - 8 (E) |
| Bracken Fern (N) (Pteridium aquilinum) |
2 - 4' | Wide dark green fronds; hardy fast | Shade; humus/moist soils zones 3 - 8 (D) |
| Japanese Beech Fern (Polystichum decursive-pinnata) |
1 - 2' | Green & lt. green fronds; clumps | Shade; avg. - humus soils zones 4 - 8 (D) |
| New York Fern (N) (Polystichum noveboracensis) |
18 - 24" | Yellow-green lacy fronds | Sun - lt. shade; dry - moist soils zones 4 - 8 (D) |
© Rosedale Nurseries, Inc. 1994, 2003, 2015
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