painted ferns are great but they like a bit more sun.

Really? Like how much? I have few planted there already. Two are in the back that gets the most shade. One corner gets sun in the morning. I had three planted in that corner, but they have not emerged yet. I'm hoping they are still alive.

My Japanese fern is in shade, and deeper than dappled shade.
It does beautifully, so I'm sure you'd be safe with that choice.
Michele

Greenguy - I would love to know what the names of your Hostas are in that picture? I really like the colors combination. :)

Maria

Autumn ferns only have the interesting foliage, in the autumn. The rest of the time the fronds are green.

There are other varieties of fern related to the Japanese Painted fern with interesting reddish foliage - Burgandy Lace and a couple of others my memory cell refuses to remember right now.

You also might consider something like a Christmas or Holly fern because of the different texture of the frond or go the other way and get a very fine textured frond like a Tatting fern.

Thanks for all the fern suggestions. Obviously fern fans here among the hostas! I'm glad I asked. I did think Autumn ferns had the bronzy color in the summer! That was my reason for wanting them. I wanted a complement to the Creme Brulee heuchera. When do they turn?

If greenguy is there, how long did your Japanese fern take to reach that size? Mine were in quart pots planted 3 years ago: they have not expanded at all. (and I thought hosta were slow-growing!)

I have a silver fern that was sold to me as Japanese painted fern 'Ursula's Red' but I don't believe it. Not as much red painting as the catalog, for sure. Mine took about two years to get hefty; divided in the third year.

I envy your heuchera collection. Hey, can anybody tell me the name of my small unknown hosta, blue and in bloom, to the right of the fern? The one the fish is looking at?

Otherwise, from fish, clockwise: mystery hosta, undulata 'Kiwi Spearmint' lookalike (no, it's not HVX), 'Pacific Blue Edger', 'Blue Moon' (I think; hard to read the tag and it's dark out now!), and 'Winfield Blue.' Click on the photo to see it larger, but drat! Photobucket now limits free accounts to 800 pixels wide; this was meant to be seen at 1280 wide, so you'd really be able to see the red and "painting." Oh, well. Flickr, here I come...

I read somewhere that Ursula's Red takes a good 3 years before it starts showing much red.

Deanna

Here's my chartreuse/purple combo:

Another view:

The Japanese maple makes a nice purple foil, but I don't have any heuchera in this bed. I may have to change that!

Thanks for all the nice pics! Nice color combinations. I can't wait until mine fills in more. Sadly, some of my heucheras took a hit over the harsh/weird winter. Most of them look smaller than when I planted them last year. The two-year old ones look ok. The Japanese ferns are just limping along: those too are smaller than they were when planted, 3 years ago now! They were quarts but I was expecting more from them.

It's hard to get an idea of scale: are those small verieties? I don't want to get something that will be bigger than Paul's Glory.

homer_zn5, my purple cimicifuga fills the niche of your Japanese maple! What is the streaky leaved one in your second photo?

First time on this forum

Intersting for sure
Enjoyed the pictures

I am in the same boat
Moving to a home a resale home this July.
The set up looks right for hostas but the present owner usually puts in annuals mostly impatience He has some interesting rocks through out the beds which are around three sides of the back of the yard a light shade

I have lots of Hostas here where I currently live. Have been debating as to whether I should dig up a good number of them and bring them along or, rather should not.

Any opinons on to dig or not to dig.
The time is good now up here in Canada. For digging that is.

Diane

sorry it took so long
the hostas are blue seer and captain kirk. When I bought ck I didn't think i was going to like ck as much as i do (it is now a favorite)
the fern was only there 3 years in that pic. it is in rich fertile soil and only gets bright a.m. sun and none after 1pm or so but i do have others that handle more sun. Don't get me wrong it is not a sun plant it can just take a lot more then any other fern that i have and doesn't do very well for me in deep deep shade.

another pic from 2004 (it was a good year here)

Hi Linnea,
This year my "Eye Declare" hosta is exceptional. It may be the extra splash you need.
Also look for "Ladys Fern" Nice green foliage with red stems. Clumper and it looks beautiful when it emerges.

Put a dark heuchera like Obsidean near Eye Declare and you have a show stopper.

Loved all the pretty pictures. I am adding ferns to my garden. I have never had any luck with Japanese Painted Ferns. I guess it is too hot for them. Lisa that fish sets off your pretty hostas. I also love the rock in greenguy's garden.

Welcome diane. I would move those hostas if I were you. It is a lot of work, but you will have bigger hostas in your new garden. Ken has great instructions for moving hostas in the FAQ.