Download BEST FERNS FOR THE MID-SOUTH AREA By Christine

BESTFERNSFOR THE MID-SOUTHAREA
By ChristineSpindel
The MemphisFern Societv
The Memphis Fem Society,foundedin 1976,meetson the third Mondayof the month at 7 p.m. at
Town Village at AudubonPark,950 Cherry Road.We meeteight timesa yearSeptemberthrough
Novemberand Januarythrough May. We also havea Christmasdinner in Decemberand a
Barbecueand Gardenvueat a member'shome in June.The purposeof the Societyis to studyferns,
one of the world's oldestplants,to growthem and give othersthe benefitof our experience,and to
sharethis knowledgewith othergardenersand membersof the community.We invite amateursand
experiencedgardenersalike to join us. For information aboutferns or the Society,call Dr. Eugene
McKenzie,396-0447.Lorie Emens,682-8075,Marvin Nutt, 818-0669,or Chris Spindel,685-9835.
GeneralCare Of Hardy Ferns
Ferns.many of them evergreen,add variety, texhre, contrast,and year-roundbeautyto gardens.
Native ferns and most non-nativesare free from pestsand disease.Although classedas shadeplants,
they like bright, indirectlight and cantakemoming or late afternoonsun.They like damp,friable
soil and needto be kept well wateredwhen first planted.A few will grow only in acidic or alkaline
soil. Hostas.hellebores.ginger,Iris cristata,I. virginica,and manywildflowers madegood
companionplantsfor fernsthat,onceestablished,
will retum to give pleasurefor many years.
NativesandNear-Nativesand CultivarsOf Native Ferns
Polystichumacrostichoides
(Christmasfern) Evergreenfern resemblingthe Bostonfern, visible on hillsidesin winter when
treesare bare. This fern, like all ferns,needsshade,moisture,and bright, indirect light, and If wel[watered,will survive betterthan most ferns in sunnierplaces.
Athyrium filix-femina
(Lady fern) Four speciesor varietiesof lady fern, dependingon which authoryou follow, live in the
U. S. Lacy leaves,about2 - 4 feettall, likes shade.but if keptwatered,will do well with morning or
afternoonsun.
Athyrium fi lix-femina forma rubellum
(Red-stemmedform of the lady fern).This lovely fern with finely-cutfoliage grows everywherein
damp woods in the Mid-South and adaptsreadily to shadygardens.
Athyrium thelypteroides
(Silvery gladefern, silvery spleenwort)The juvenile sori on the undersideof the leavesare silvery
when young.Easyto grow, it surviveswell in sunnierplaces.
Athyrium filix-femina'Minutissimum'
(Miniaturelady tbrn) Dwart-cultivarof the lady tbrn with tight little tufts of finely-cut fronds about
tive inchestall.
Osmundacinnamomea
(Cinnamonfbrn) Cinnamon-coloredsporing stalksappearbeforethe fronds. Abundant here in lowlying shadywoods with acid soil, this tbm needsonly shadeand water to grow three to four fqet
high.
Adiantum pedatum
(Northern or Bird's Foot Maidenhair) Grows in damp shadyplacesand needsdamp, friable, woodstype soil to reward you with its black stemsand delicatefoliage.
Adiantum capillus-veneris
(Southernmaidenhair)Beautifi.rlsoft fronds, black stems;grows best if there is lime in the soil
which allows the plant to take up calcium. I plant it by a sidewalkor give it a few dolomite
limestonepelletsor a little hydratedlime.
Athyrium pycnocarpon.also Dip lazium pycnocarpon
(Glade tbrn) Looks somewhatlike Christrnasfern with thinner leaves.Deciduous.Taller, more
upright. It grows bestby water and must have moist soil at all times. I saw acresof it growing
arcunda lake in northernMississippi.
Osmundaregalis
(Royal fern) Can grow four or t-rvefeet tall in acid, moist soil, taller in the north, or where
varieties.
conditionsare favorable.Cultivarsincludecrestedand purple-stemmed
Onocleasensibilis
(Sensitivefern) Spreadsrapidly, not recommendedfor small gardens.In the fall it producessporing
stalksthat remain affractiveall winter and can be dried for flower iurangements,but should be cut
before spring to preventfurther spreadof the fern.
Dryopterisaustralis
Southernwood or shield fern. Bright glossy leaves.Tall. Very hardy here.
Dryopteris celsa
Log fern - doeslike to grow nearlogs.
Dryopteris ludoviciana
(Florida or Southernwood fern) Tall, evergreenfern with somewhatglossy,leatheryleaves,much
admiredby visitorsto my garden.
Dryopterismarginalis
(Marginal wood fbrn) I haveseenthis evergreenf-erngrow on barerocks in northernMississippi.It
receivesits nametiom the sporesthat grow alongthe marginson the undersideof the leaves.
Frondsare uprightand evergreen,18-24inchestall. This fern is an excellentone tbr our areaand
hasbecomeavailablein local nurseries.
Cystopterisfiagilis
(Fragilewood fbm) Grows hereand all over the world. Deciduous.Spreadsrapidly and makesa
good low growing groundcover.
Non-natives"very hardy here:
Growing non-nativeferns is a matter of trial and effor and a challengeto fern lovers.New species,
mostly Polystichumand Dryopteris from Japanand SoutheastAsia and mountainousareas,are
proving to be hardy here. Moving a non-nativefern that is not growing well to a shadieror sunnier
place or giving it more water, or lesswater, will often help it to grow. Thesefems provide unusual
color and texture for gardenshere.
Ath)'rium niponicum'Pictum'.and its many cultivars(old name:A. eoergingianum)
(Japanesepaintedfern) Silvery, blue greenhonds with touchesof burgundyin veins and stems,
about8 to 12 inchestall, much taller underideal conditions. It spreadsrapidly and a little sun helps
the color to develop.A greentbrm is the original fbrm.
Dryopteris er.vthrosora
(Autumn fern) Evergreenfern with leathery,upright, glossyleaves.New fronds are copperypink
and turn bronzebefore becominggreen,henceits name. Beautiful fern to 36 inchesor eventaller,
'Brilliant'
and one of the most dependablefbr color in the winter garden.New frondsof a cultivar
'Prolifica'.
tend supposedlytoward yellow. Another very good cultivar:
Polystichumpolyblepharum
(Tasselfern) Evergreen,with striking,glossyleaves,new frondshavea limp tip (thetassel). Old
name:P. setosum. Very hardy in my gardenfor many years. Beautiful fern.
Dryopteris cycadina.sometimesD. atrata-the older namefor it
(Shaggyshield fern) Like a light greenChristmasfern with softer foliage, evergreenin warm
winters, stipe hasdark glands.I pair it with the dark puple "Queen of the Night" tulips.
Athyrium otophorum
(Ghostfern, earedfem, and,incorrectly,Englishpaintedfern. It comesfrom Asia.) A glow to the
leavesin a certain light gives the fern this name. Red stemsand veins make this a very attractive
fem, about 18 inchestall. Lovely. Very hardy.
Polystichumsetifbrum
(Soft shieldtern, mistakenlycalledAlaskantbrn) This fern and its many cultivarsareeasyto grow.
the true very-tinely-cut
Bulblets.fiom which baby tbrnsdevelop,grow on its honds. P. setigerumo
Alaskanneedscooler,damperconditionsthanwe havehere.
Cllrtomium talcatum
(Holly fbrn) A large,evergreen,fern with glossy,holly-shapedleaves,it may die down in winter
and return in spring. Cyrtomium forfunei. which is hardier.is not as greenand glossy.C.
caryotideum.or varietv Intermediumor C. macrophyllaart more difficult to grow.
Lygodiumjaponicum
climbing tbm. This lacy, climbing fern doesnot producerootletsthat cling to brick or
Japanese
wood, so it needsa trellis of narrow laths or wire or string to supportit, Almost evergreen,it needs
to be cut to the ground in spring beforenew fionds develop.
'variegata'.EastIndian Holly Fern.This striking fern hasglossy,leathery
Arachniodessimplicior
leaveswith a yellowish stripe through the centerof eachleaf and leatlet. Plant in shadein a damp
area.Slugssometimesnibble on it.
Phegopterisdecursive-pinnataor Thelypterisdecursive-pinnata.Japanesebeechfern is hardy and
in my garden.Deciduous
spreadsquickly; it appearedspontaneously
Thelypteriskunthii synonymouswith T. normalis. I get more calls aboutthis fern than about any
other. lt appearedin SouthernLiving as Southernshield fern and was shown growing arounda tree
in what was probablya Zone 8 garden.Here it is known as the "Texas fbrn", but also as river fern or
southemmaidenfern. In friable soil it spreadseasilyand makeslargecolonies.It can be lost in a
very cold winter.
Koreanrock fbrn. and P. mackinoi,Mackinoi's wood fern, areboth hardy
Polystichumtsus-sinense.
here.
evergreen
and
NOTE: Cultivars of most of the aboveferns do well here. There are many other native f'ernsthat,
quite naturally,grow well hereand arenot affectedby the cold or heator changesin our weather.
Many native ferns.smallerand not so showy, are not generallyavailable in nurseries.Fernscan be
transplantedfrom Mid-South woods, but theseplantingsshould not be disturbedunlessthe areais
slatedfbr development.Ownersof wooded areaswill sometimespermit gardenersto dig fems from
their premises.Thesefortunategardenersshould not disturb the entire colony, but dig only enough
of a fern to get it startedin their gardens.SeeObtaining Hardy Fernsbelow.
FERNSNEEDING SPECIALCARE
Matteuciapennsylvanica
(Ostrichtbrn) Crows well herebut not as tall or robustas in the Northeast.Mine hasspread
protusely,but tbm growershavetold me of problemsgettingit started.A singlespecimencan make
a handsomepottedplant. The fiddleheadsof this fbrn are eatenby Midwesternerseachspringand
tonsof thesefiddleheadsarecanned.
Osmundaclaytoniana
(lntemrpted tbrn) Lovely vasetbrm. interestingsporestructure,grows naturally only as far west and
as far southas ReelfootLake. Hard to grow hereand not reconrmended.
Bugssometimesnibble it.
Dryopterisfilix-mas or D. atfinis
(Male fernsand theirmany cultivars) Likes extrawater, care.shade.coolerweather,a little lime.
often sold here,but I do not know of any grown successfullyhere.
Blechnumspicant.Deer fern. I now haveseveralgrowing here;this fernsneedsmoist, friable,very,,
well-drainedacid soil with plenty of compost,but not recommendedhere.
FERNS- CARCTNOGENIC
Pteridium aquilinum - bracken- a large fbrn with large triangular shapedleaf, grows in bright sun in
meadowsand alongroadsides.hascarcinogenicspores.Brackenis spreadingover pasturesin
Englandand causingseriousproblemswith sheepand cows that eat it and consequentlydevelop
stomachcancer.
USESFOR FERNS
Fernstendto comeup a little laterthanotherplants.Use them to hide the dying leavesof daffodils,
the leggy branchesof shrubs,to softenrocks.brick, and concretefoundations,to contrastwith other
plants and to enhanceany gardenwith their beauty,texture, and variety. Many ferns have colorful
fronds (autumn fbrn in spring, red-stemmedlady fern, East Indian holly fbrn, and Japanesepainted
fbrn) that you can usewith blooming or foliage plantsfor contrastor accent.Many areevergreen.
OBTATNINGHARDY FERNS
Fems area little slow to appearabovegroundin the spring.They know aboutweatherfiom living
hundredsof millions of yearson this planet.Fernsdo not bloom and are not as showyas the
perennialslike peonies,roses,and iris or annualslike impatiensand petunias.Their flowers
naturally attractvisitors to nurserieswho forget that blooms fade but ferns provide beauty,texture,
and variety all yearlong. Gardenersalso think their sunny gardensare not suitablefor ferns.Many
fernswill grow in sunlight;and othersneedonly protectionfrom hot summerafternoonsun.
Fernsare availableat nurseriesand also at spring plant salesheld by the Memphis Botanic Garden,
LichtermanNatureCenter,Dixon Gallery and Gardens,the Zoo. The Friday gardeningpageof the
CommercialAppeal usuallylists thesesalesfar in advanceof the saledatesand thereare evening
previewpartiesfor the early bird gardener.I checkoutletslike Lowe's and Home Depot and often
find fems there.Flowersfade; ferns are.forever.
Fern Books
Fcrns./itr American Gardensby John Mickel. fbrmer Curatorof Fernsat the Brooklyn
Botanic Garden- photographsand descriptionsof f-ernsyou are probably growing
Ferns to Know and Grow by F. Gordon Foster- older but still very good, althougha few
namesmay have beenchanged
Encyclopedioof Ferns by SueOlsen, 700 beautiful photographs,960 ferns, from many
gardensshowing t'ernsplanted with rocks and combined with other plants in fern lovers'
gardens,a pleasureto look at and to read.
Ferns af the Eastern Central Stateswith Special Referenceto Tennesseeby JesseShaver,
one of Tennessee'sbest-knownpteridologists,my first fern book, excellentand
interestinglywritten, still a favorite.
Fern Growers Manual by Dr. BarbaraJoe Hoshizaki, renownedPteridologist,and
Robbin Moran, Curator of Fernsat the Brooklyn Botanic Garden,detailedand excellent
infbrmation on identiffing ferns and growing particular ferns.
A Natural History of Ferns by Robbin Moran, an adventureinto the world of ferns with a
surpriseat every turn of the page
Encyclopediaof Ferns by David Jones,excellent,older more detailedbook of many,
many ferns,
The Time-LiJbEncyclopedia of Gardening, volume on Ferns.Mythology, history, and
other interestingfbcts about fernsoalso many ferns.
PetersonField Guide on Ferns, a secondedition of a fifty-year-old guide by Boughton
Cobb, now with color photographsand new information by ElizabethFarnsworthand
Cheryl Lowe
There are many fern books at various libraries.
I also highly recommendBringing Nature Home by DouglasTallamy