Please read: This is the only plant that we sell that has an expected loss rate (with every other plant that we sell you should not lose a single plant). It is NOT recommended for anyone who is not experienced with this challenging fern. If you plant it properly, give it a suitable environment, and keep it adequately moist, 25% of these plants will not emerge after transplanting. If your environment and/or care is less than ideal, you could lose ALL of the plants. If you are not willing to assume this riak, do not order these plants. We will not replace or refund any plants that do not survive.
FYI: Tops that are on these when we ship will die back. They will later send up new tops. If they have no tops when we ship they will sometimes send up tops just to die back and send up new tops later. This is odd behaviour, but that is what happens.
IMPORTANT: Be sure to plant these roots parallel to the ground (do not plant them with the root pointing up/down, the root should be pointing side-to-side), about 1 inch below the surface of the soil.
Note: do not worry if they shoot up tops and then die back, that can happen and is not a cause for concern. New foliage will appear later.
Unique and prized for its delightful fragrance of freshly mown hay when crushed or bruised, Dennstaedtia punctilobula is a fantastic perennial groundcover for those with a large, blank canvas looking for economic and moderate to fast coverage. Light green fans of foliage turn golden in autumn brightening shaded gardens with soft luminescence. Intricate bipinnate fronds create texture and movement.
Hay-scented Fern is tolerant of most soil types provided it is somewhat acidic, will grow in full shade, part sun and even full sun (just give her regular moisture without leaving her feet wet), and absolutely adores a dappled shade environment. She is appreciated by gardeners for her willingness to tolerate drought in shaded spots and harsh urban elements in city locales as well as the fact that deer and rabbits tend to avoid her.
Reaching heights of nearly 3 feet, this fern behaves beautifully as a taller border edging, performs famously on a shaded slope controlling erosion, and rapidly naturalizes in woodland settings by underground rhizomes. In mass plantings, which is hands-down the best application due to her slightly invasive personality, Hay-scented fern becomes a softly glowing thicket of lush green foliage that arches gracefully toward the light.
Interesting Facts The clusters of sporangia are surrounded by cup-shaped coverings, hence the sometimes used common name of cup fern for plants in the genus Dennstaedtia.
This genus honors A. W. Dennstaedt, an 18th century German botanist.
Gardener Tips In hot, southern climates, Hay-scented Fern's foliage tends to go dormant in summer, so you will want to consider a companion plant with a late bloom time, evergreen or richly colored foliage. If you need a border, try a row of Hay-scented Fern with a Coral Bell such as Amethyst Mist whose deep burgundy foliage provides a gorgeous contrast.
General information about Ferns:
When gardeners and landscape designers are looking for a dramatic, vibrant spray of color and foliage, they will often consider ferns for their project.
In addition to sweeping texture and lush greenery, ferns work wonderfully as independent or companion perennials.
Perfect in mass plantings where they create the feeling of a field of grass swaying gently in soft breezes, ferns are also delightful as
borders
where they stand like shapely chartreuse soldiers at the edges of garden beds.
Then again, when used as accents, in single plantings, or clusters amidst a rock garden, you have a moving work of willowy art.
But what to choose?
You’ll be pleased to know that after more than 40 years of experimenting with various ferns, we have compiled a selection of the easiest to grow and hardiest ferns.Essentially, we’ve narrowed the list down for you, so you can select from our varieties with confidence.
A bonus with our ferns is that all, except
Japanese Painted Fern
and
Japanese Shield Fern
are
native to the United States.
Selections like
Christmas Fern
are wonderful
erosion control
options.
With some ferns being
evergreen
and some semi-evergreen, you are sure to find the option that works wonderfully for your garden.
Be sure to check each plant's Description tab for details.
Special note when planting bare root ferns in hot weather: If you plant bare root ferns during hot weather it is common for the foliage to die off. Do not fret, as long as you keep them moist they will grow back foliage. Depending on the severity of the heat it might not be until after summer ends.
We received the roots in just a couple days and they were very healthy. We got them on a Friday and had them planted by Sunday. Can's wait to see them come up.
Not clear to customer that no plants arrive-- just roots. Some explanation and instruction would help.
============= 07/27/2016 Classy Groundcovers comment: If you look at the eight photo on the page you ordered from it shows the bare root as shipped.
... Read full review >
I have no idea yet whether the ferns will emerge from the ground! The plants arrived well packed (CG does a wonderful job of packing their plants!) but I wish some instructions had been included. I quite frankly could not figure out which end to put in the... Read full review >
Performs best in well-drained (but moist) soil with added organic compost or peat moss. Best not to allow soil to dry out. Will tolerate sun if given enough moisture.Ferns have delicate foliage that often suffers during shipment and transplanting. Cut off any foliage that is broken, bent, brown or yellow - the plants will quickly recuperate with fresh growth. Bare root ferns are particularly prone to foliage loss, it is not uncommon to have to cut them off at ground level when transplanting. As long as the roots are firm they will recover, often showing new growth within weeks during warm months. If transplanting bare root ferns during warm weather they might not send up foliage until summer ends or the following spring (best to transplant bare root ferns when they are dormant: late fall to early spring).
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This link shows you photographs comparing potted and bare root plants for some of our most popular plants. It will improve your understanding of what to expect from the various sizes.
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Leaflets are themselves divided into smaller leaflets.
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Establishing it so that it lives wild in a region it is not otherwise indigenous.
Rhizomes are root-like stems that may either grow horizontally at the soil surface or in other orientations underground.
The enclosure in which spores - the fern's reproductive mechanism - are formed.
See all plants with foliage that stays green all year (depending on where you are in the country).
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See our Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum').
See our Japanese Shield Fern (Japanese Wood Fern, Autumn Fern, Dryopteris erythrosora).
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See our Southern Shield Fern (Dryopteris ludoviciana).
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See all plants that deer tend to avoid (deer will eat anything if they are hungry enough).
See our Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides).
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A zone at one end of this range
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Conifers are gymnosperms, woody cone-bearing trees and shrubs. Examples of the 600+ conifers include cedars, cypresses, firs, junipers, kauri, larches, pines, hemlocks, redwoods, spruces, and yews.
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Proper ground preparation and fertilization will improve the growing environment and performance of your plants, testing pH is also a good idea (click for details)
A good planting strategy will make your job easier and produce excellent results
Bare root plants are plants that are shipped with the soil removed: they must be planted soon after delivery (click for more information)
Article describing how to plant bare root plants (the same basic strategy works for all plants)
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