Ferns

My front porch always looks empty this time of year.  The Christmas decorations are back in the attic and my snowman conveys the feelings of the entire neighborhood, 'It's too cold to do anything; just stay inside!!!!'. 

Adding to the starkness of the porch are the empty urns that usually hold pretty ferns in the spring and summer.  In about eight weeks it will be time for our jet streams to return to their spring patterns, leaving Arctic temperatures up there where they belong and we will be able to liven up our porches once again.

During the North Central Master Gardener's January meeting we enjoyed a presentation entitled "Frond Feelings For Ferns".  It was very informative and has gotten me interested in trying different varieties this year.  Here are some quick notes from the presentation with pictures from www.casaflora.com, a great source for ferns.

Boston Fern:  

 traditional porch fern

  part or indirect sun

evenly moist soil

      will not survive freezing temps.

 

 

 

 

Macho Fern:

    grows 3 - 6 feet in height and diameter

    part or indirect shade (will tolerate more sun that a Boston)

     regular deep watering (let dry slightly in between waterings)

     will not tolerate freezing temps.

 

 

 

 

 

Fluffy Ruffle:

   loved for it's compact growth habit

       do not water from above, water by soaking it's container

 will "burn" in too much sun

will not tolerate freezing temps.

 

 

 

 

Maidenhair:   

 perennial

    indirect or dappled sun

      does well in container or the garden

       mulch crown if overwintering in the garden

 

 

 

Kimberly Queen: 

 perennial

      a "workhorse" for the garden bed or container

      upright fronds over 2' high

          likes full to part shade, but can tolerate a fair amount of sun

        likes even watering, but is more drought tolerant than other ferns

 

 

 

 

 

 

Japanese Painted Fern:

perennial

    reaches height of 30"

adds color with silver/purple edges of fronds

   full to part shade

 

 

 

 

Autumn Brilliance Wood Fern: 

 evergreen perennial

great for adding color to the garden

   part to full shade

  grows 2' wide and tall

      tolerant of heat, cold, and less than perfect soil

 

 

 

 

Asparagus Fern: 

not really a fern, member of the asparagus family

full to part sun

 tolerates heat and drought

 great in pots or in the ground

 

 

 

 

Foxtail Fern:

same characteristics as the asparagus fern

Ferns can be grown in your flower beds as well as pots. Just remember that only the perennial ones will make it through the winter!

    Looking forward to warmer weather and prettier porches,

                                                                                                   Shelli