The selection of garden ferns currently offered by garden centers is not very rich. More refined and rare species and varieties can be found from collectors. Let's dwell on the most common species in culture.
Maidenhair foot (Adiantum pedatum). A graceful forest fern with an original wai shape, forming a light openwork cloud. Loves shade and partial shade, normally moist soils. In the conditions of the Moscow region, it is completely winter-hardy. It grows rather slowly, not aggressive. Mature bushes can be divided.
Derbyanka spiky (Blechnum spicant). A medium sized evergreen fern with glossy simple dark green fronds. Spore-bearing fronds differ from infertile ones. In nature, it lives in dark coniferous forests in the mountains of the Caucasus and Western Europe. Expressive and attractive, but not winter-hardy in central Russia: in severe winters, especially without snow, it can freeze out. Requires shelter with foliage and spruce branches, partial shade, drainage and loose soil with an average nutritional value.
Female kochedyzhnik(Athyrium filix-femina). A very common forest fern throughout the northern hemisphere with triple-feathery fronds dying off for the winter. It can grow both in the shade and in the sun (subject to constant humidity), with or without drainage, even withstands stagnant moisture. The only drawback is that after sporulation (at the end of August-September) the fronds turn brown and the plant loses its attractiveness. It has many varieties that are highly decorative and original. Here is some of them:
- 'Cristatum' - each "feather" ends with a small fan;
- ‘Frizelliae’ - low grade with narrow fronds, the shares of which are miniature toothed fans;
- ‘Victoriae’ - the wai lobes are alternately directed up and down, effectively crossing;
- ‘Lady in Red’ - leaf petioles are red, the dissection of wai is more delicate.
All varieties, like the species, feel great in the conditions of the Moscow region, they can be propagated by division.
Japanese kochedyzhnik (Athyrium niponicum). It is quite winter-hardy in central Russia, even withstanding snowless frosts. Grows best in partial shade, prefers moderately moist, nutritious light forest soil. Can be multiplied by division. Has several varieties (‘Pictum’, ‘Ursula’s Red’, 'Metallica'), which are very decorative and differ in the degree of purple color of the veins and the silvery shade of wai.
Centipede leaflet (Phyllitis scolopendrium). Homeland - mountain forests of Europe. Vayi - the simplest of all ferns, not dissected at all, evergreen, light shade. Despite its southern origin, it is quite winter-hardy in the conditions of Moscow. It has a great variety of varieties, differing in the degree of corrugation of the edge and dissection of the leaf blade, among which the following are most common:
- 'Cristata' - starting from the middle, the frond splits into several parts, which, in turn, end in serrated fans;
- 'Crispa' - the frond's edge is deeply and strongly corrugated;
- 'Serratifolia' - the frond is narrow, along the edge there is a strongly corrugated wave.
All varieties of leaflets leave a lasting impression, look great in the garden and can be propagated by division.
Common centipede (Polypodium vulgare). A fern growing on rocky outcrops and tree trunks throughout Eurasia. Fronts are winter-green, dense, feathery. The rhizome is creeping, the plant forms a curtain over time, while it grows non-aggressively. Absolutely winter-hardy, completely unpretentious when grown in the shade and partial shade in moist, rather light, drained soil. It is not at all necessary to plant it between stones, although in this case the centipede looks great.
Multi-row bristle-bearing (Polystichum setiferum). Fern from the lower layer of forests in the mountains of Europe and the Caucasus. In the conditions of the Moscow region, frond is winter-green, leathery, shiny, petioles are covered with hairs and rags. In severe snowless winters, it can be badly damaged. Loves loose, not too humus-rich forest soil with constant non-stagnant moisture and drainage.
Onoclea sensitive(Onoclea sensibilis). View from the forests of the Far East. Has a creeping rhizome, grows quite aggressively. Forms dense clumps up to 60 cm in height. Spore-bearing fronds differ from vegetative ones. The petioles are long, the leaf blade is pinnate. The fronds are brittle and tender, but grow back quickly after damage. Feels good in partial shade, tolerant of excess moisture. Easily multiplies by dividing the rhizome.
Royal Osmund (Osmunda regalis). Slow-growing large fern with double-feathery fronds. Spore-bearing fronds with sori differ from sterile ones. Loves damp shady places, light and rather fertile soil. It can grow for many years, forming a powerful rosette-hummock with dying vayas. However, it is impossible to divide it: the point of growth is always one. It is quite winter-hardy, withstands snowless frosts.
There is a variety with reddish petioles and veins.
Other types of osmund (O. japonica, O. cinnamomea, O. claytoniana) have similar cultural requirements and behave similarly in the garden.
Bubble bubble(Cystopteris bulbifera). Short-rhizome American fern with narrow double-feathery brittle fronds. Winter-hardy, easy to cultivate: grows on any garden soils in the absence of flooding. On the lower part of the frond, on the central vein, it forms bulb-like buds, which, when applied to the soil, develop into new plants. One of the few fern species capable of malicious weeding, since the bulb is very viable.
Common ostrich (Matteuccia struthiopteris). Common fern of humid forests throughout the northern hemisphere. Vegetative fronds are pinnate, spore-bearing differ from them and turn brown at the time of sporulation, have the characteristic shape of an ostrich feather. A versatile fern capable of growing in a wide variety of conditions. It is good both at the time of blooming wai, and at the height of summer, when it looks like a green fountain. And even in winter, spore-bearing brown fronds sticking out over the snow contribute to the architecture of the garden. Propagated by underground stolons, at the ends of which young plants develop.
Phegopteris binding, or Beech woodworm(Phegopteris connectilis). A fern common throughout the northern hemisphere that prefers temperate forests. Low (20-40 cm) long-rooted species, non-aggressively growing into a neat curtain of graceful double-feathery wai on long petioles. Absolutely winter-hardy, prefers partial shade, moist forest soil. Brittle, but grows back easily after damage.
Cittomium Fortune (Cyrtomium fortunei). Evergreen attractive Asian fern. Unfortunately, in the middle of Russia in the open field it can withstand only warm and snowy winters and cannot be recommended for a garden. However, it is quite common on the market.
Shieldworm male(Dryopteris filix-mas). Another widespread species in the northern hemisphere, including in Russian forests. It has a rather tough shiny winter-green frond, is stably decorative, reaches a height of 1 m 20 cm. Tolerant to garden conditions, it is better to plant it not in direct sun. There are many different varieties, such as the following:
- 'Grandiceps' - the tips of the “leaves” look like fans, the top of the frond is also strongly dissected;
- 'Linearis Polydactyla' - narrow fronds with split ends. The plant looks light and delicate. This variety can be found in our sale.
Male fern varieties are as easy to cultivate as the species.
