5+ Perennial Ferns

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Perennial Ferns

my Woodland Shade Garden

My Favourite Ferns.

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

  1. Maidenhair Fern
  2. Japanese Painted Fern
  3. Cinnamon Fern - this one was a gift
  4. Fluffy Ruffled Fern - the edges are really ruffled
  5. Christmas Fern - needs some TLC - I'll give it some compost and see if it helps.
  6. 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.

Some of my ferns:

Cinnamon Fern: was a gift and it grows up to 4' or more. I have it growing with hostas and I guess it's a good thing that they are tall.
Maidenhair Fern: This is such a soft and dainty fern. It's hard to believe that I can grow it outside in Zone6. They grow well with spring bulbs, because they cover the spot when the spring bulbs go dormant.
Japanese Painted Fern: This one you can't miss in the garden. I have them growing with Heucheras and Blue Hostas. This fern always make me stop and smile.
Christmas Fern: This one is not a fast grower for me, but it's a dark green.
Fluffy Ruffles Fern: This fern is really Ruffled and it seems like it should be indoors. However, it comes back every year.
I have other ferns that showed up in my yard and some that I've lost the labels of. I would show you a picture, but my hard-drive broke and I lost most of my pictures. Always next year! :)

Perennial Fern Care in Zone6

Ferns are easy to care of. They are happy with a handful of compost, water and mulch every spring. Mulch again in the Fall. The rest they do their own thing and rewards me their beauty all season. When the garden feels too hot, the Woodland Shade Garden is always a breath of cool fresh air.

my Woodland Shade Garden

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