by Silva Payne

Created on: September 19, 2009

Ferns are often overlooked by gardeners today in their search for ever more extravagant flowers and coloured foliage. Growing ferns is very simple as long as you create the right environment for them. You will then be rewarded with plenty of lush foliage which looks great on its own as a specimen plant or as a backdrop for more flamboyant plants.

Ferns have undoubtedly earned their place in modern gardens. They are some of the oldest species of plant on the planet, with fossilised examples in existence dating back 400 million years. In the wild, they grow at sea-level and on mountains, and almost everywhere in between. The 12000 species are hardy perennials, meaning the plant dies back during the cooler months to either a dormant stump or to a portion of the plant remaining underground. When the temperature begins to rise again, the plant sends out new growth. In some climates, ferns remain evergreen all year round.

The Victorians were fascinated by ferns. Many collectors built lavish glasshouses to hold their plants, and the term Pteridology was coined to describe the collecting and growing of ferns. The genus has many different sized species, from small aquatic ferns that float on tropical waters, to the giant tree ferns of the Dicksonia family.

Ferns generally prefer to grow in soil that is rich in organic matter. The more compost you can add to your soil the better, as most ferns need good drainage and lots of "food" to grow strong and healthy. Recreating the kind of soil found on a woodland floor should be your aim if you want to successfully grow ferns, so plenty of leaf mold and compost is a must. Ferns also grow best in shade or semi shade areas. Direct sunlight can scorch the fronds (the name for the arching branches that unfurl from the central part of the plant) and cause the plant to dry out and die. Dappled shade is best, even for tree ferns. To really show ferns off at their best, a thick mulch of bark chippings and a selection of logs and stumps are perfect.

Ferns are very simple to care for. Leaving any dead fronds attached to the plant will help protect it during its dormant period. In cold climates, wrapping the stump with fleece or piling on straw will help protect it from frost and snow. Tree ferns should be watered from the top and not the base, as these ferns have roots along the trunk.

Ferns can make excellent architectural plants. They add an air of the exotic to any garden design and can be used as individual highlights, or as a lush and textured backdrop for other specimen plants. Ferns are perfect for creating a fairy or woodland garden and are great companions for woodland anemone and geraniums.

Learn more about this author, Silva Payne.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.