8+ PERENNIAL FERNS for - Woodland and Shade Gardens

8+ Perennial Ferns

for Shade and Woodland Gardens

Perennial Ferns

my Woodland Shade Garden

My Favourite Ferns.

Some were gifts, some I bought and some just showed up in the yard.

Maidenhair Fern
Japanese Painted Fern
Cinnamon Fern - this one was a gift
Fluffy Ruffled Fern - the edges are really ruffled
Christmas Fern - needs some TLC - I'll give it some compost and see if it helps.
others ferns without tags :) I think this one is a Lady Fern - Native to Ontario, Canada. It's a pretty green and dainty

Key word on ferns from the Experts:
Rodale's All-New Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening
by Barbara W. Ellis
"Fern: is nonflowering vascular plant that reproduces by spores borne on the underside of its fronds.
Frond: The leaf of a fern, uncluding the blade and the stipe.
Blade: The flattened leaf portion of a frond.
Stipe: The stalk of a frond that supports the blade.
Rhizome: The creeping underground stem of a fern from which roots and roots arise.
Fiddleheads: The young, unfurling frond of a fern.
Spore: A sexual reproductive cell.
Spore Case: The spore-bearing structures on the underside of fronds.
Prothallus: Usually a flat, heart-shaped green structure that grows from a spore and bears the fern's sexual reproductive cells."
Now you know all I know about Ferns. I didn't know what Prothallus was. I have seen it, but I didn't know what it was called.

Perennial Ferns

Ferns are, in my opinion, the quintessential shade plants for Woodlands and Shade Gardens. Ferns will grow in rich and moist soil and prefer partial shade. Although the cinnamon fern can grow in full sun. I have them growing in the shade, but I noticed some of them ran away and are growing in my neighbours yard in full sun.

Top Perennial Ferns for Canadian Gardens:

Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris)

• Hardiness: Zones 2-7
• Height: Up to 5 ft - this one can take over your yard.
• Features: Lush, upright green fronds resembling ostrich plumes
• Edible?: Yes - young fiddleheads are edible in spring, but I don't eat it. I know this person that picks them and sells them to restaurants.
• Best for: Moist, shaded areas and naturalizing in woodland gardens

Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina)

• Hardiness: Zones 2-8
• Height: 1.5 to 3 ft
• Features: Delicate, feathery, bright green fronds. This is is what it says a "pretty fern". It won't take over your yard. :)
• Best for: Shade borders and woodland plantings.

Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum pedatum)

• Hardiness: Zones 3-8
• Height: 1 to 2 ft
• Features: Graceful, fan-shaped fronds with shiny black stems. This is so pretty and dainty in a shade garden.
• Best for: Moist, well-drained, shaded sites

Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides)

• Hardiness: Zones 3-9
• Height: 1 to 2 ft
• Features: Evergreen with leathery, dark green fronds
• Best for:Winter interest and dry shade

Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis)

• Hardiness: Zones 2-8
• Height: 2 to 3 ft
• Features: Broad, light green fronds; sensitive to frost
• Best for: Moist soil and rain gardens

Cinnamon Fern (Osmunda cinnamomea)

• Hardiness: Zones 3-7 (this one likes my yard a bit too much)
• Height: 2 to 5 ft
• Features: Cinnamon-colored fertile fronds emerge from the centre
• Best for: Moist woodland gardens and near water

Interrupted Fern (Osmunda claytoniana)

• Hardiness: Zones 3-7
• Height: 2 to 4 ft
• Features: Fertile fronds interrupt green growth mid-stem
• Best for: Naturalized settings with moist, acidic soil

Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium niponicum)

• Hardiness: Zones 3-8
• Height: 12-24 inches - stays small and tidy.
• Features: Silvery-grey fronds with hints of burgundy and green. Looks hand-painted - seriously beautiful in the shade.
• Edible?: No - strictly ornamental.
• Best for: borders, under trees, or adding contrast in woodland or hosta gardens. Slow to spread, but worth the wait.

Planting & Care Tips:

• Soil: Rich in organic matter, consistently moist but well-drained
• Light: Partial to full shade; some tolerate sun if soil stays moist
• Maintenance: Low; cut back old fronds in early spring for best appearance.
Mulch in the fall with dry leaves.

Link to Ferns in Ontario, Canada

my Woodland Shade Garden

Perennial Gardening || Gardening for Birds || Landscaping for Butterflies || Landscaping for Hummingbirds || Flower Gardening

Perennial Ferns