Ferns can give a shady garden a feeling of lushness.

Fabulous Ferns

by Christina Symons
Image © Christina Symons

Unlike showier plants, ferns don't scream "look at me" in the garden, but they do bring a quiet beauty and tranquil carpet to any landscape.

From common native sword and bracken ferns to more exotic varieties such as maidenhair and ostrich ferns, gardeners can choose to weave a variety of ferns under canopies of trees or plant them singularly and en masse for a sweeping effect.

Ferns aren't fussy. Contrary to popular opinion many ferns can thrive in a variety of conditions, generally preferring moist shade but also putting up with uncompromising dry shade as well as rocky and even sunny locations (just don't bake them). Look to nature for inspiration and check out spots where native ferns flourish - the forest, a meadow, an abandoned car or mossy outcrop.

Once established, ferns need little care and are not susceptible to many pests or diseases. In late fall, you may cut back the finished leaves or fronds to make way for healthy new growth in the coming seasons. Two of the most popular and beautiful ferns for display gardens are maidenhair (Adiantum pedatum) and deer fern (Blechnum spicant).

Maidenhairs have delicate leaves or fronds collecting on hair-like stems giving a palm feeling and rising taller than stout ferns. Although found in nature, maidenhairs are now commonly cultivated for commercial and residential landscapes along with an optional dwarf variety.

Deer ferns are abundant in our wet forests. These lovely tufted ferns make their own compact clumps and stay small. The leaves are thought to have healing powers and folklore suggests that deer would rub their tender antler stubs against them. Deer ferns are an important food source for animals on the Coast, which makes them somewhat susceptible to damage in the garden.

In early spring, the unfurled fronds or fiddleheads of the vase-like ostrich fern (Matteucia struthiopteris) provide a tasty treat when steamed with butter. Readily available in nurseries, you'll need to plant several clumps in order to harvest enough for a small side dish. The good news is under the right conditions (moist shade rich in humus) ostrich ferns will self seed and thrive.

One of the most common varieties of ferns, both in the forest and gardens is the bountiful sword fern (Polystichum munitum). Thriving in inhospitable conditions under large dry or moist canopies, sword ferns provide "good bones" for foundation plantings in your garden. They cover a large amount of space, don't allow weeds to grow beneath them and look fantastic.

In fact, a fern-freak pal of mine swears by a mass of sword ferns in amongst a grove of vine maples, punctuated by clumps of naturalizing bulbs like crocuses and snowdrops - and he's right, it's simply a stunning display. .

Christina Symons is a contributing writer and photographer for GardenWise magazine and the Coast Reporter. She's looking forward to putting into practice some great gardening ideas at her new home in Roberts Creek.