Are Alaskan ferns & Japanese ferns hardy in zone 2b?

11 years ago

Hi, I needed some more plants for some moist shady areas and picked up two ferns today at Walmart: 1) Alaskan fern and 2) Japanese fern.

I did a bit of research on the Internet and can't determine whether or not these plants are hardy in zone 2b/3. Anyone have experience with these and can provide their experience/comments?

Thank you!

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Comments (7)

donna_in_sask
11 years ago
I've had Japanese Painted Fern overwinter for me, but it never really thrived in my garden. I've had three over the years, my last one didn't come back this Spring; I am not going to replace it. I think it may be one of these plants where you need to find the ideal conditions to have success. Make sure you make note of where you plant it...it's usually really late emerging in the Spring.
marciaz3 Tropical 3 Northwestern Ontario
11 years ago
I had a Japanese fern as well several years ago. It may have come back once. Pretty, though!
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I don't know what to tell you :-) First, I'd never recommend buying anything from anyone that can't supply the correct botanical name. The photo of the "Japanese Wonderflowers" looks a lot Mirabilis jalapa, commonly known as 4 o'clocks and could be a bastardization of that name (mirabilis in Latin translates to 'wonderful'). These are a semitropical tuberous plant that is only marginally hardy in cold climates like yours. It does tend to reseed freely, though. Second, no ferns flower! This plant is Incarvillea delavyi or hardy gloxinia but it too will be only marginally hardy for you as well. You might want to grow this in a container and bring indoors for winter. And FWIW, I'd not consider either of these true 'bulbs'.
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I'm in 6a an hour North of Lake Erie and my Japanese Painted Ferns didn't pop up until the end of May. They are growing like mad now but they were the last of my ferns to come up. I will expect the same next year and not worry about them. My Christmas, Man, Hart's Tongue and Holly fern all stayed green through the winter under 3 and 4 feet of snow. I believe all are considered "hardy" as far as ferns go and tend to stay green throughout the winter even in my northern (for North America) climate. Barb
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ONE fern? Choose ONE fern??? That captures in two words why I would have difficulty gardening in the Japanese style! If I understand correctly you would be seeing this plant from fairly close up so you'd want it to have pretty fronds, so I would consider... Dryopteris affinis, varia, or clintoniana, Polystichum makinoi or neolobatum, Osmunda claytoniana, or Matteuccia orientalis. These are some of the ferns whose fronds I enjoy the most throughout the year. They don't all comply with your "upright" criterion, but you said "fairly" upright, so I assumed some flexibility here.
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mytime
11 years ago
I have given up on the Japanese ferns. Too much money wasted on plants that barely hang on for a couple of years before they finally disappear.
fillagirl
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks for your advice. I decided to return both the ferns (they took them back thankfully). I didn't find any plants for shade, but found a lovely daylily (Mary Reed) and lily (Tiny Hope). Couldn't resist....but still on the look-out for some hardy ferns, besides the Ostrich fern.
Thanks again for your help!
beegood_gw
11 years ago
Painted ferns....tried but it died. Have the reguler ferns which grow like weeds. Tried one of those tall 4"--5" but it did not make it. But a bad winter so who knows.
shazam_z3
11 years ago
Mine's been doing well for three years but it's in a very protected location.
northspruce
11 years ago
I'm no fern expert but there are Maidenhair species and other smaller species native to our boreal forests. I think all ferns are nice, even plain old ostrich ones!

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Are Alaskan ferns & Japanese ferns hardy in zone 2b?

Comments (7)

donna_in_sask

marciaz3 Tropical 3 Northwestern Ontario

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mytime

fillagirl
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shazam_z3

northspruce

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Are Alaskan ferns & Japanese ferns hardy in zone 2b?

Comments (7)

donna_in_sask

marciaz3 Tropical 3 Northwestern Ontario

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mytime

fillagirlOriginal Author

beegood_gw

shazam_z3

northspruce

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fillagirl
Original Author