Ferns add dramatic, sweeping textures and contrasting colors to your landscape. They are effective in mass plantings, as borders and as accent plants. Our ferns thrive in part shade and full shade. Dryopteris ludoviciana (Southern Shield Fern) and Dennstaedtia punctilobula (Hay-scented Fern) even tolerate full sun throughout the range of U.S. zones (check each plant description for details).

All of our ferns are tolerant of drought, and all except Athyrium Pictum (Japanese Painted Fern) are native to the United States. Some are evergreen or semi-evergreen, most are rarely eaten by deer and Polystichum Acrostichoides (Christmas Fern) is excellent for erosion control.

How to choose? Well, after more than 40 years of experimenting with various ferns, we have compiled a selection of the easiest to grow and hardiest ferns.