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Moss, Ferns & Cryptogams

your fern recommendation for this picture

17 years ago

I have a couple spots I am considering putting some ferns. I don't know much about ferns other than I admire them when I see them and they generally like shade to part shade and moisture. Would someone view the picture I have posted(at least I hope it posts) and recommend what they would plant in the bare areas. I looked at some ferns at my local garden center and to be honest with you, they all look the same to me with the exception of the Japanese painted fern. The area I'm looking at is on both sides of the spice bush that is planted in the middle of the picture. I know my plantings are probably not so great compared to alot of you but I'm slowing learning and filling in as I go. I would like some fern ( how many?) toward the back near the fence and something to add contrast and color in the front of them. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Lora

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v419/Lora/100_0376.jpg

Comments (4)

tjsangel
17 years ago
I love the Japanese Painted fern, it would look nice in the front. I would put something tall like Cinnamon fern or the Male fern (very easy) on the sides. Ferns are for the most part not fussy, easy to grow if you provide the right soil conditions and shade. Good luck w/your choices, I'm sure it will look great!

Jen
rdh1994
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks for your recommendations. I googled "ferns" and found the ones you mentioned and several others I can read about. There seems to be a few different kinds of Japanese painted ferns although the only one I see around here is the silver colored one. There is a burgundy lace and a ursula red. Have you ever heard of these? The pictures I found were magnificent!

Lora
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I agree - maybe Blechnum magellanicum. Can you spot the two fronds with very narrow pinnae (leaflets)? - one at 11 o'clock and the other at 2 o'clock in your picture? These are the fertile, sporing fronds - I think all blechnums have them, separate from the normal fronds. Glad to hear you like ferns - me too! Have a look at this link. http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.sheilatiffin.co.uk/images/B.magellanicum012.jpg%3F520&imgrefurl=http://www.sheilatiffin.co.uk/page_43.html&usg=__zyKjgmkrDVVoxKmt3OMykSCmkzI=&h=640&w=480&sz=63&hl=en&start=9&sig2=Im_fH6dVF4WO69OcmBDzVA&zoom=1&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=_jtVhTdXXwDC6M:&tbnh=137&tbnw=103&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dblechnum%2Bmagellanicum%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG%26rlz%3D1W1GPMG_en%26tbs%3Disch:1&ei=mHF9TOH5F4-SOLL0hYIE Have fun, Maurice.
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karinl
17 years ago
YOu have room for at least three ferns, and I'd look for some that grow bigger than the Japanese painted. There are indeed several forms of that one, and it would look great toward the front of your bed, but for the back I'd be looking for bigger, spreading ones. I'm not sure about hardiness at the moment, but obviously looking at the ones in your local garden centre is a great place to start. Read the tags and pick the ones that grow biggest! They often don't look very different when young. The two named by Jen above are indeed good choices (they are aka Osmunda cinnamonum and Dryopteris filix-mas), and I also like the Polystichums and other Dryopterises, they are both very large and variable families with some very impressive ferns in them. You might also enjoy John Mickel's book Ferns for American Gardens, which a local library might have. Someone who used to post here as Athyriana has a great website that you might also enjoy, linked below.

Here is a link that might be useful: Great fern site
rdh1994
Original Author
17 years ago
Thank you for the link! I loved looking at all the pics and descriptions. Just wish they would have used some common names for some of the ferns, they're easier to remember. I did pick up one taller growing more upright fern over the weekend and planted it in back, it was called a log fern. I couldn't find a Cinnamon fern. Maybe they had all been picked out. They had a bunch of lady ferns and marsh ferns and a couple very small ostrich ferns. I'll keep my eye peeled for other nice ones.

Lora

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