Ferns spot in the shade dates back through the ages

Fossil impressions suggest that ferns have been on the planet for more than 100 million years. Today there are about 12,000 species of ferns - most of them found in tropical rain forests.

We may have many fewer species than those found in the rain forest for our own shady gardens, but with the family of dryopteris alone, we have an abundance of beautiful, reliable ferns from which to choose.

These ferns are generally easy-to-grow, dependable plants that make few demands of the gardener.

If asked, they would request a site in filtered sunlight all day, with moist woodland soil full of organic matter.

And, although ferns in the dryopteris family perform satisfactorily in spots that receive some direct sunlight, they would prefer some protection from the hot afternoon sun.

Autumn ferns

The colorful fronds of autumn fern or dryopteris erythrosora emerge coppery red, turn bronze as they expand, become shiny green as the season progresses and blush with copper again in the fall. New fronds continue to grow throughout the summer, extending the show of color.

Autumn ferns grow 18-24 inches tall. Once established, autumn ferns are drought tolerant.

Brilliance autumn fern, called dryopteris erythrosora Brilliance, is a showy fern with four-season interest. Young fronds begin coppery bronze in spring, turn glossy green as they mature, turn bronze again in fall, and then remain evergreen well into winter.

Male ferns

Male ferns - dryopteris filix-mas - are native to rocky woods in western and northeastern North America.

They were given the common name male fern because of their masculine, robust character. These adaptable, deciduous ferns can even tolerate nearly full sun if they have ample soil moisture.

The ends of the fronds of Crispa Cristata male fern are very frilly, giving the fern a lovely textured, fringed appearance. This dwarf form of the male fern only grows 12-24 inches, making it a good choice for the front of a shady border.

Can you guess what the fronds of Parsley male fern resemble? If you guessed they look like the dark green and crinkled leaves of parsley, you are right.

This vigorous grower reaches 18 to 24 inches in height and is an excellent choice for massing.

Goldie's fern

Another native to northeastern North America, often found near water in cool woods, Goldie's fern, or dryopteris goldiana, is one of the tallest ferns for a sheltered spot in the garden.

A highlight of the spring shade garden, the shaggy fiddleheads start with broad, leathery, bright green fronds that turn pale yellow in the fall. Goldie's fern creeps slowly by rhizomes, gradually forming a clump of slightly arching foliage up to 4 feet tall.

Leather wood fern

A common fern native to the woods, ravines and rocky slopes of northeastern North America, leather wood fern or dryopteris marginalis is a vigorous garden fern.

Slightly arching fronds unfurl yellow green, darken to blue green by summer and remain evergreen well into winter.

Leather wood ferns grow 12 to 24 inches tall.

Remote wood fern

Remote wood fern, also called Scaly Buckler fern or dryopteris remota, is an excellent fern for a woodland setting. It emerges early in a bright flush of light green foliage. The widely-arching, delicate-textured fronds grow 2 to 3 feet tall. The remote wood fern is very hardy and adaptable to most conditions.

Toothed wood fern

Toothed wood fern or dryopteris spinulosa grows 18 to 30 inches tall with deeply divided, glossy green fronds that turn yellow in the fall. Plant toothed wood fern where its delicate fronds have some protection from the wind.

Its lacy foliage mixes well with large-leaved perennials.

Garden companions

Ferns mingle well with large or coarse-foliaged perennials. Tall ferns are good comrades for large hostas, golden-ray or ligularia and Rodger's flower, called rodgersia.

Ferns that top out at 2 feet are fine companions for lady's mantle or alchemilla mollis, Chinese forget-me-not or brunnera macrophylla, mid-sized hostas, and foamflowers or tiarella. Small ferns are excellent neighbors to barrenwort or epimedium, small hostas and lungwort or pulmonaria.

With so many ferns in the dryopteris family, from the small to large, coarsely to finely cut, and deciduous to evergreen, there is one sure to become a favorite in your shade garden.

Diana Stoll is a horticulturist and Garden Center Manager for The Planter's Palette, 28W571 Roosevelt Road, Winfield, IL 60190. Call (630) 293-1040.