How to Use Ferns in Your Garden or Landscape
Walk through almost any natural area that is shady and moist, and you are bound to see ferns. These ubiquitous native plants carpet the ground in woodlands and wetlands. They gather around springs and beside stream banks, cascade over rocky outcroppings and decorate old stone walls.
Ferns are plentiful in the wild, yet it’s relatively unusual to see them used in gardens and home landscapes. That’s unfortunate, because these graceful perennials have so much to offer. They are easy to grow, long-lived and require almost zero care. They are available in many variations of green, and lots of different sizes and shapes. Plus, ferns are rarely troubled by diseases or pests, including deer and rabbits.
These unique plants are among the earth’s most ancient, and they carry this wild and timeless feeling with them. Ferns help to weave a garden or landscape into a lush tapestry of texture and color.
Leatherwood Fern
Using Ferns in Your Yard and Garden
Ferns are an excellent addition to almost any shady garden. You can use them as specimen plants or as companions for other shade-loving perennials such as hosta, astilbe, bleeding heart (Dicentra) and caladiums. Tall ferns can create a wonderful sense of enclosure, while shorter types can be used to soften the edges of pathways or rocky outcroppings.
Deep shade can make it challenging to maintain a healthy, good-looking lawn. Rather than fight Mother Nature, consider introducing ferns into some of these difficult areas around your home. Once established, they will be an attractive feature and require much less attention than a lawn.
As a general rule, ferns prefer moist soil, so they are a natural choice for edging a stream or pond. Have a soggy area or rain garden? Consider including ferns along with other moisture-loving perennials such as bee balm (Monarda), Joe Pye weed (Eupatorium) and ornamental grasses.
Ostrich Fern
Where to Plant Ferns
Most ferns grow best in loamy soils that are rich in organic matter. Before planting, take some time to prepare and improve the soil. Loosen it with a garden fork and mix in compost and/or peat moss. Though most ferns are not fussy about soil pH, some types prefer acidic soil. For best results, know the pH level of your soil and choose ferns that will be happy with the natural conditions in your garden.
Some ferns are sun tolerant as long as their roots get adequate moisture. Interrupted ferns and cinnamon ferns will both grow in relatively sunny locations. For sites with dry soil, you should have good luck with Christmas ferns and lady ferns. If a period of unusually hot weather causes the foliage to wither or brown, cut the fronds back to the ground and they will regrow once temperatures cool down.
Christmas Fern
Five Easy Ferns for Home Gardens
There are dozens of beautiful ferns to choose from, and each has its own special character. Here are five types that are widely available and well suited to home landscapes.
Christmas Ferns
This hardy perennial is native to the eastern U.S. In all but the coldest areas, its foliage stays green throughout the winter. The fronds are dark green and have a long, narrow shape (see photo above). Though the plants are slow-growing, they are very long-lived. Plant them in moist, well-drained soil that is relatively acidic. You can expect Christmas ferns to grow 1 to 2 feet tall with a similar spread. They are winter hardy in zones 3-8.
Ghost Ferns
These plants are hybrids between our native lady fern and the Japanese painted fern. They have an upright habit and silvery grey fronds with burgundy accents. Plant them in part to full shade and provide shelter from wind. Ghost ferns will not tolerate drought, so it’s important to choose a planting location where the soil stays moist all season long. The plants take some time get established, but can eventually spread to cover a 2 to 3-foot area. Height is 12 to 18”. They are winter hardy in zones 4-7.
Ostrich Fern
These native, clump-forming plants have an upright habit and grow 4 to 6-feet tall with a 3 to 6-foot spread. They produce two types of fronds. The showy, infertile fronds are long and lacy, and resemble an ostrich plume. They emerge at the base of the plant, curled up like a fiddlehead, and slowly unfurl to their full, 4-foot length. The plant’s dark brown, fertile fronds appear in midsummer at the center of the clump and grow about a foot tall.
Ostrich ferns prefer medium to wet, slightly acidic soils and full to part shade. The plants spread by underground rhizomes, and under ideal growing conditions they will form large, dense colonies. Therefore, it’s important to give them plenty of room to spread out. The plants grow best in sheltered locations with cool summers. They are suitable for hardiness zones 2-7.
Leatherwood Fern
This plant is native to the eastern U.S. and is sometimes called the marginal shield fern. It is low-growing, reaching a height of 18-24” with an equal spread. The dark green to bluish-green fronds are 5 to 8” wide and have a leathery texture. Grow in moist soil and full to part shade. Protect from sun and drying winds. A great choice for any shady garden. Winter hardy in zones 3-8.
Lady in Red Fern
The plants commonly known as “lady ferns” are native to the eastern and central U.S. This cultivar has been selected for its showy red stem color. The deeply cut, light green fronds are 6 to 9” wide and 2-3 feet long. The color of the stems intensifies as the plants mature.
Plant lady ferns in full to part shade, and give young plants plenty of room to reach full size, which is 24-30” tall and 18-24” wide. In northern areas, the plants will tolerate sun if the soil stays moist. Lady ferns are an excellent ground cover and good companions for other shade loving perennials. If you enjoy making flower arrangements, you’ll find the foliage makes a great filler. The plants are winter hardy in growing zones 3-8.
To see our complete selection of ferns, click HERE. To learn more about gardening in the shade, read: Design Tips for Shady Gardens.
This sounds like the answer to my small hill under some big cedar trees – I hope
Give it a try. Start by enriching the soil with plenty of compost. Leaf mold is even better, if you have it. This will help the soil retain moisture and not dry out as quickly. Water weekly for the first month or two until the plants are well established.
Can you plant these under evergreen trees? I was told nothing will grow under them
Hi Cathie,
It really depends on the type of evergreens as well as the soil. Very few plants will grow in deep shade and that is often what you get under evergreens. They will also grow better in rich, moisture-retentive soil that has lots of organic matter. The best way to find out is to plant a few ferns toward the sunnier edges and see how they do.
I love ferns and I’m in the process of placing them by my fish pond, my just a little water feature for sound and behind a water fall. All are doing well, love them. I heard they were invasive but I don’t care….now that is, I can give them away easily.
Hi Donna — Ferns are such easy and rewarding perennials. Some types do spread, but others don’t or do so very slowly. Like other plants, their vigor also depends on the growing conditions — how happy they are. They look beautiful near water. I bet your pond is really pretty.
Hi I love the look of ferns, but find them invasive. Is there a way to keep them from taking over? Thanks
Hi Jenn — Not all types of ferns are aggressive growers. Here are several that have a clumping habit and are relatively slow to spread: Christmas fern, lady fern, maidenhair fern, ghost fern, leatherwood fern and Japanese fern. The the way plants behave differs somewhat by climate and growing conditions, but you shouldn’t need to worry too much about these.
My ostrich ferns seem to be lacking something. I planted them three years ago on the north side of the house near a large spruce tree, so lots of shade. They are small and not spreading. Would It be a good idea to use cedar mulch to keep the soil moist and cool? Or, will it suffocate the ferns?
Thank you,
Hi Bev – Not many plants are able to grow under evergreens. It may simply be too much shade for the ferns. Ostrich ferns prefer the dappled shade and/or high full shade beneath deciduous trees. They also need consistent moisture and the soil may be too dry under those trees. Your idea of mulching the soil is a good one and worth a try. Do it now, while you can still see the crowns of the plants — or wait until spring after the ferns have emerged. That way you can cover the soil and not the plants. A couple perennials that are known to tolerate dense shade and dry soil are geranium macrorrhizum, lamium maculatum and pachysandra. Good luck!
Thank you so much for the advice Kath. I will wait for the ferns to come up next spring to move some to another location and to make sure I don’t cover them with the cedar chips. Thank you for the advise and suggestions.
I reside on the coast zone 9b. I have been searching for ferns that I can adapt to my garden. I have a semi sunny and shade location. I see nothing after zone 8. Suggestions?
Hi Bobbi – I am a north country gardener, so don’t have any first-hand experience growing ferns in zone 9. You don’t say if you are in the south or west, but here is an article from Sunset Magazine about growing ferns on the west coast. It includes many species suitable for zone 9: Fabulous Ferns
And here’s another article that includes more information about siting, growing and caring for ferns: Ferns for Southern Gardens
Hope this helps give you some ideas.
We have a large bed of ferns growing on the side of a ditch that runs down the side of our property. We would like to plant a tree in the middle of this bed.
It can’t be a tall tree as it is under a power line.
We live on the southwest side of Florida.
Would some kind of palm do well?
Hi Lucy – I am a north-country gardener and don’t have any experience gardening in Florida. It’s very different! If I were you, I would visit the largest and most highly rated, locally-owned garden center and ask someone there. Another option would be to contact a local landscape designer. They could visit your yard, make a recommendation and even provide and plant the tree. It will cost a bit for their services, but you would be sure to get a plant that is well suited to the site. Good luck!
I would like to plant ferns in zone 5 in montana. Was hoping to get some advice on the most beautiful natural looking fern for zone 5. Thx so much.
Hi Bruce – all the ferns mentioned in this article are winter hardy in zone 5. Some ferns prefer more shade or more moisture than others, so that’s just as important to consider as winter hardiness. Here’s a link to a field guide to native ferns in Montana. It shows where various ferns can be found naturally and describes the growing conditions they prefer. Plants should never be removed from the wild, but this guide should give you some good ideas for fern shopping. I have never purchased from Fancy Fronds Nursery, but it looks like they have a great selection of options.
Educational practical article. Yes plan a small fern garden for2020
Good! Hope it comes out beautifuly.
I’m impressed with your sensible and thoughtful answers to questions. Do you sell ferns? Do you help with design? Can I reach you by phone?
Hi LuWanda – Glad you found this information helpful. We do sell a couple ferns. You can find them HERE. Longfield Gardens does not offer design services. We recommend finding someone local who is familiar with the soils and climate in your area.
If you can read French, the best book there is for Northeastern America native species is ‘Fougères, prêles et lycopodes’ by Fleurbec editions. Maybe it’s been translated?
I am looking for ferns to plant in a back lightly wooded area that will spread. I see you talked about varieties that tend to clump and not spread, but what ones can I plant that will fill out and take over a large area? (I live in NJ – zone 6). Thanks!
Ostrich ferns (Matteuccia struthiopteris) grow 3 to 6 feet tall and form crowns, but they also spread by underground rhizomes. They grow well in part to full shade. You can learn more about them HERE. This article has a list of creeping vs clumping ferns: Hardy Native Ferns.
I have a lot of ferns in my shade garden. Western sward, autumn, male, deer, tassel, and holly are all great ferns. Western sward are the hardiest.
We have a beautiful large cypress tree, and lots of knees, in a low, wet, rather shady spot. I’d like to plant some ferns and other shade/moisture tolerant plants I don’t have a good feel for what plants to choose or how to combine or arrange them. Any suggestions?
Hi Margaret – I’m sorry to say that I have no experience gardening under cypress trees (I garden in growing zone 4). Do you have a neighbor with a nice garden? Gardeners are almost always eager to share their knowledge and local is best! Otherwise a local garden center or maybe hire a garden designer to come over for an hour and give you some guidance.
Are ferns a good choice close to foundations (brick)?
I have some planted in shady/rocky areas of my garden, but they have spread significantly, even choking off some of my perennials and late spring bulbs.
Hi Kim – Ferns have very thick, fibrous roots but to my knowledge, they are not a threat to foundations. Some types of ferns can be too aggressive for a perennial garden. These are best relegated to wilder areas where they are free to roam.
Hi- I planted two good sized Ostrich ferns in our back, dappled shade garden. It’s a large area and I bought them because the nursery told me they will spread quickly so I was excited about that. Upon planting, we discovered the entire area has a thick weed barrier (we are not the original owners). We cut the barrier enough to plant them, but I guess they won’t be spreading. What I want to know though, is because they spread underground but have nowhere to go, will it somehow be harmful to the ferns I planted? The area is a rock garden and they are planted in the middle of a very large area, so they would have several yards to get to anywhere that has no weed barrier..which would be our yard. Thoughts? Thank you!
Hi – Plants grow so differently depending on climate, soil, moisture and light exposure. Which is to say I can’t predict what those ostrich ferns are likely to do in your location and with those restrictions. In my experience they are burly plants that can hold their own in challenging conditions. My suggestion is to watch what they do and take it from there. If they prove to be unhappy, you can move them elsewhere or pass them along to someone who can give them the space they need. Good luck!
Living in NE Dallas area and have two large 3’x3’ Christmas ferns in the pot. I would like to put them in the ground and am wondering if that would be safe to do this time of year. Suggestions?
Since Christmas ferns are winter hardy in your area, you should be able to plant them into the ground now. Just make sure to provide adequate moisture while they are establishing their roots and getting settled in.
Looking for a great flowering plant for zone 7b NE Dallas. that can take 6 hrs of hot sun in the summer and periodic wet feet from small floods that happen in a good rain. Suggestions
This article from the Missouri Botanical Garden will give you some ideas. It’s for Oklahoma, but the growing conditions there are very similar to yours. Read the descriptions to find out if they will tolerate wet feet. Selected Perennials for Oklahoma Gardens.
Any ideas on what ferns grow under aspens, It can get get a little dry in my aspen grove. I’m in Northeast Wyoming
Hi Julie – Here in the eastern half of the country, there are four native ferns that grow well in relatively dry soil: Athyrium filix-femina (lady fern), Dryopteris marginalis (eastern wood fern), Dennstaedtia punctilobula (hayscented fern) and Polystichum acrostichoides (Christmas fern). I imagine some or all of these would also work where you are. Good luck!
I would love to grow ostrich ferns in my zone 8A area in eastern NC. Is that possible with the heat and humidity here?
Hi Sally – Zone 8 is at the warm edge of the growing conditions ostrich ferns prefer. This means they may grow OK for you, but only if the soil texture, moisture and amount of shade are agreeable. The only way to know for sure is to try growing a plant or two and see how they do. Good luck!