Lady ferns add a touch of diffuse verdure to your specter garden .
fern have a reputation for being hard to grow and requiring extra concern for their long - term natural selection , but lady ferns(Anthyrium filix - feminaspp.)are an exclusion and merit peachy use where they are hardy . With their feathery fronds , bright green color , and a multitude of variety usable , lady fern provide theshade garden lookwithout all the endeavour and exacting shape .
Kritsada Panichgul
Credit:Kritsada Panichgul
Native to North America , peeress fern can be found throughout much of the cooler , northern regions of the continent , where they form slowly expanding dependency and typically originate between 1 and 5 feet tall . While they take plentiful moisture , they’reexcellent fledgeling fernsfor those looking to institute fern into their landscape painting .
This pathfinder covers basic forethought , propagation techniques , and usual issues you might find in your own garden when growing madam ferns .
Where to Plant Lady Ferns
Unlike many plants , lady ferns are broad of shade . Plant lady ferns inUSDA Plant Hardiness Zones4 - 9 in moist , loamy , well - draining soil . Place your plants where they ’ll have some protection from the most intense Lord’s Day and wind , which can allow frond tattered .
How and When to Plant Lady Ferns
For good results , plant noblewoman ferns in tardy springtime . When planting glasshouse - grown madam ferns , dig a hole doubly as wide and the same profoundness as the fern ’s rootball . Remove the fern from the container , being thrifty not to damage or disturb the roots . Place it in the fix at the same astuteness it was growing in the container and backfill the hole with stain . When constitute multiple fern , space them 2 feet asunder . Water well .
The process is standardized when establish unfinished - ascendant lady ferns , except douse the roots for two hours before planting is an essential first stair . Position the bare - root plant in the hollow so the crown is situate a half - inch below the soil surface . Cover with ground and water well .
Lady Fern Care Tips
Light
Lady fern choose promising , indirect light but cangrow in part sun to mystifying shade . A position under the dappled light of a shade Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree with break of day Dominicus is ideal .
Soil and Water
Like most fern , dame ferns prefer loamy , well - drained soils with plenty of moisture anddecomposing organic matter . Keep flora watered throughout the grow time of year to avoid premature dieback in summer heat .
Temperature and Humidity
Lady ferns prefer cool mood with plenty of tribute from strong Lord’s Day , and they and savor high humidity . Plants uprise in Zone 9 may experience early summer dieback due to heat , even in humid locating .
Fertilizer
While ferns answer well to fertilizer , they do not require heavy measure to fly high . Use anorganic liquid foliar fertilizer , follow the product instruction , every three week during the growing season .
Pruning
Aside from removing broken fronds , lady fern do not call for pruning .
Pests and Problems
Lady ferns are typically pestilence - free plants that postulate minimal upkeep once established . However , intense Dominicus , low humidity , and dry soil can lead to less - than - ideal emergence and premature dormancy by midsummer .
How to Propagate Lady Ferns
Lady fern can bepropagated by sporesor division , withdivisionbeing the quickest and easiest method acting .
spore : Prepare a plastic pot about three - quarter full withthoroughly moistened pot soil . discover fertile fronds on the lady fern . spore look on the underside of fronds on mature plants and have a hoary , dustlike appearance . Using a lily-white small-arm of paper to catch spore , gently tap on the fronds to reposition the spores . Be careful , as the spore are very clear and can easily float away .
Gently and evenly shake the spore onto the prepared potting soil and let them settle . Cover the pot with a piece of plastic wrapper , place it in a shallow water supply dish to maintain moisture , and move it to a bright , warm location .
Credit:Matthew Benson
In one to six months , lowly green masses will appear on the ground surface . After three to five true leaves come along , remove the plantlet and relocate them to their own quite a little or a protected placement alfresco .
naval division : To propagate dame fern by sectionalization , locate a levelheaded , mature plant that has multiple growth degree . lightly take away the flora from the soil and locate the private maturation points . Using a soil knife or another sharp dick , snub through the root ball between the ontogenesis spot so that each division includes both fronds and roots . Replant each division in its own pot or a prepared garden seam now .
Types of Lady Ferns
Dwarf Lady Fern
Matthew Benson
Growing between 6 - 12 inch tall , midget lady fern ( Athyrium filix - femina’Minutissimum ' ) stays short than the species but otherwise looks standardised . Zones 4 - 8
Victoria Lady Fern
Peter Krumhardt
The frond of Victoria madam fern ( Athyrium filix - femina’Victoriae ' ) have an interesting crisscross smell , thanks to the narrow-minded pinnae with crested ends . The fern grows to 2 feet tall and wide . Zones 4 - 8
‘Lady in Red’ Lady Fern
Andre Baranowski
Athyrium filix - feminavar.angustum’Lady in Red ' has dark red stipes ( stems ) on plant life that grow to about 30 inches tall and wide . Zones 4 - 8
Lady Fern Companion Plants
Lady fern do well with other wraith - loving , hardy fern , hostas , temperate orchids , fantastic gingers , heucheras , and many others . Avoid planting ma’am ferns with too large , sprawling plants that might overtake them or block their opinion .
Garden Plan for Lady Fern
Lush Woodland Small Garden Plan
If you have a wooded area in your yard , or even just a tree diagram or two , you have the unadulterated space to install this lush woodland garden plan . It layer together a selection of soft - textured , shade - loving plants , including three mintage of aboriginal ferns , to make a realistic bed of bloom and foliage .
Frequently Asked Questions
No , ma’am ferns are not poisonous . In fact , lady fern fiddlehead ( unexampled shoots ) are eatable .
Lady ferns are native to much of the United States , and while they will slowly fill in a placement , they are not considered invasive .
In cooler climates and their far northern stove , lady ferns can tolerate full sun if they have constant moisture . Heat , photograph to ironic winds , and ironic soil will eventually go to tattered fronds .
Credit:Peter Krumhardt
Credit:Andre Baranowski
Credit: Illustration by Mavis Augustine Torke
