Generally, at least for me, ferns are very slow to show new growth in spring. I have the Autumn fern and Japanese painted fern and the jp is just coming up, nothing new on the Autumn. I think we'll start seeing something soon.

Jen

Depending on where you live, it's still pretty early and some perennials aren't up yet, certainly not in my own garden and I'm in zone 7 (it's been a late and fairly cold spring, plus my garden is on a north-facing slope).

Ostrich ferns are always the first to come up for me and they are popping up all over the place. My painted fern is also just starting to come up, but still no sign of my autumn ferns. I think they're just one of the later ferns to come up. Give them time.

I had an autumn fern for awhile. I planted it mid summer. It returned the following spring, the latest of all my ferns. It did not make it through the second winter so I do not know, but I have noticed the first year I had my Christmas fern it came later too, but then the second and successive springs it has come up as the the other ferns do.

Speaking of autumn ferns, mine usually die back to the ground. This year, last year's ratty foliage is still kicking around. Should I be cutting that off?

alisonn, cut it back. My autumn ferns are evergreen and I just cut back any fronds that look ratty in the spring.

Still no sign of life. I was sure that mine had made it through winter because there were a few leaves that had some green to them this spring but I guess I was wrong. I will leave it in its spot though just in case it decides to show some sign of life.

No growth on mine yet either. Keep it in the ground and wait. I'm not patient with slow plants, but this one is so pretty I dont want to get rid of it!

Jen

New growth now emerging. It appears that the main crown is dead but I noticed that it has just begun to grow on a side shoot. Glad it is not officially dead.