Fern fact
The ‘silver tree fern’ is significant within New Zealand culture. It can be seen emblazoned on the All Blacks rugby top as well as on national coins.
If you think ferns look like relics from an ancient time, that's because they have existed on Earth for around 300 million years. Ferns were around before the dinosaurs!
Ferns have enjoyed periods of great popularity. In the mid-19th Century Victorian England, fern fever ('pteridomania') took over. The fern motif was used to decorate many items, from wallpaper to pottery and clothing.
Today, the interest in ferns may no longer be a national obsession. But ferns are still fantastic plants to grow in the garden, found readily in garden centres and online.
The ‘silver tree fern’ is significant within New Zealand culture. It can be seen emblazoned on the All Blacks rugby top as well as on national coins.
Where to plant ferns in the garden
Most ferns you can purchase for your garden are naturally woodland plants. This means their favourite condition to grow in is somewhere with moist soil that is shady, or gets some dappled sun.
Not all ferns are shade lovers. Always check the specific growing suggestions for an individual fern species before deciding where to plant it.
You can plant ferns in the ground or in containers. If growing in a container, again check the sun requirements for that fern - you might need to keep your container somewhere reasonably cool and shady.
Ferns are also popular as indoor plants. Varieties that will do well indoors - such as boston fern or asparagus fern - will generally be available in the houseplant section of garden centres or online retailers.
In this guide, we concentrate on ferns to grow outdoors.
Types of fern
There are over 10,000 known species of fern. Some of the most popular types grown in gardens include:
Ferns are unique because they do not produce flowers or seeds. Instead, they have spores that dot the underside of the fronds. Have a look and enjoy the endless fascination of plants!
Ferns are available to buy and can be planted for much of the year. Spring and autumn are particularly good seasons, when the ground is not too dry.
Dig a hole big enough for your plant. Carefully remove it from its pot, position in the hole and back-fill with soil. Try to have the crown (where the stems meet the rootball) just above the ground.
Watering
Ferns like a lot of water, but don't over water or they could experience rot. Ferns are often in shady spots, so dry out less quickly than plants in the sun. Try to water at the base of the plant and not directly on the fronds.
Pruning
It's personal choice how much you feel like pruning your ferns. You could remove any dead and damaged fronds to make way for fresh growth and improve circulation to the plant.
In late winter or early spring, you could cut all fronds down to ground level. This will leave you with a head of dormant growth.
There are several ways to propagate ferns, including:
You are likely to have the greatest chance of success through dividing plants. Fern roots are not too delicate. Spring is the ideal time to do this.
To divide your plant, dig the whole thing up. Using a knive, divide the rootball up into two - or even four - separate parts. Make sure each part has some leaves on it.
Then, simply dig holes and plant each part in its new location - or, put some up and give them away if its more than you need.
As ferns have such prehistoric beauty, younger children could spark their imagination by placing toy dinosaurs among your ferns and creating their own Jurassic world.
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