Planting Tips

Landscaping with Ferns in Temperate Climates

Ferns bring a unique charm to any garden, creating a lush, cool, and inviting atmosphere with their graceful, arching fronds. They are perfect for softening hard lines, toning down bold colors, and adding a touch of natural elegance to modern or traditional landscapes.

Plant ferns in groups to achieve a woodland effect, where flowing, natural designs focus on texture and form rather than color alone. As groundcover, ferns truly shine—quickly forming a dense, verdant layer that brings life and lushness to shady areas. They are especially ideal for under-tree spaces, which often pose planting challenges. With a little organic matter and some careful pruning, you can create a protected microclimate where ferns thrive.

Ferns are surprisingly adaptable and, once established, can be very hardy. To help them thrive:

  • Moisture: Keep soil consistently moist.
  • Light: Mostly shady sites, avoiding harsh midday sun. Many ferns enjoy gentle morning or late afternoon sun if moisture is sufficient.
  • Shelter: Protect from strong winds.
  • Soil: Rich in humus and well-drained to allow air to the roots. Improve soil with rotted sawdust, straw, compost, or peat.
  • Fertilizer: A light annual dressing of blood and bone is enough.
  • Keep soil cool and retain moisture with a good layer of mulch.
  • Blechnum minus – Swamp Kiokio
  • Blechnum montanum – Mountain Kiokio
  • Blechnum novae zealandiae – Kiokio
  • Blechnum penna marina – Little Hardfern
  • Cyathea dealbata – Silver Fern
  • Dicksonia fibrosa – Wheki Ponga
  • Dicksonia squarrosa – Rough Tree Fern
  • Polystichum vestitum – Punui, Shield Fern
  • Asplenium bulbiferum – Hen & Chicken
  • Asplenium oblongifolium – Shining Spleenwort
  • A. oblongifolium x bulbiferum – Maori Princess
  • Blechnum discolour – Crown Fern
  • Blechnum fluvatile – Kiwakiwa
  • Blechnum minus – Swamp Kiokio
  • Blechnum montanum – Mountain Kiokio
  • Blechnum novae zealandiae – Kiokio
  • Blechnum penna marina – Little Hardfern
  • Cyathea dealbata – Silver Fern
  • Cyathea medullaris – Black Tree Fern
  • Asplenium bulbiferum – Hen and Chicken
  • Lastreopsis microsora – Creeping Shield Fern
  • Pellaea falcata – Sickle Fern
  • Asplenium oblongifolium – Shining Spleenwort
  • Blechnum minus – Swamp Kiokio
  • Blechnum montanum – Mountain Kiokio
  • Blechnum novae zealandiae – Kiokio
  • Blechnum penna marina – Little Hardfern
  • Cyathea dealbata – Silver Fern
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