5 Favorite Hardy Native Ferns

Hay Scented Fern

The Hay-Scented Fern is a deciduous fern known for its delicate, finely divided fronds and a distinctive fragrance reminiscent of freshly mown hay when crushed, commonly found in woodland areas. It is a versatile and attractive plant with numerous landscaping benefits. This deciduous plant is native to North America and can be valuable to garden designs, incorporating texture, ground cover, and visual interest. Hay Scented Fern is native to the open woodlands. Whether it's growing in a pot, adding charm to gardens, or providing flawless ground cover, the natural elegance of the plant can enhance any space. Decorative Attributes of  Hay Scented Fern Also known as dennstaedtia punctilobula, this classy and stylish greenery is both functional and decorative in a laid-back kind of way. The plant has narrow fronds that create bright green leaves throughout the spring and summer. In fall, the fronds turn golden yellow to provide a stunning display of seasonal color. These plants provide superior ground cover, and because of their decorative qualities, the fragrant ferns can add texture and splashes of bright greenery to shade gardens. The greenery also makes a unique and striking border for garden beds. Amazing Fragrance Of The Fern Scented types exude an aroma of freshly cut hay in the late summer. That's how this plant got its name. The wonderful aroma smells like summer itself, with the fragrance of freshly mowed lawns hanging sweetly in the warm air. The fresh, summery fragrance is released into the air when the stems are disturbed or broken. Perhaps because of the scent, the plant repels rabbits and deer, which many gardeners appreciate. Because these plants are deciduous, they lose their leaves in late fall and early winter. Nevertheless, because they are shade perennials, the plants produce fresh growth throughout the spring and summer. Garden Display Of The Fern Unlike many other species, this plant has individual fronds that grow almost straight up from an underground stem called a rhizome. Plants can be up to two feet tall and four feet wide. The feathery, finely textured fronds are appreciated for their lush and abundant appearance. After emerging from the creeping underground stems, the fronds spread slowly, forming clusters of bright green carpeting over the ground. Abundant little leaflets give the fronds their lush, feathery appeal.   Shop At TN Nursery The small leaflets have finely serrated margins and pointy, lance-shaped tips that are positioned alternately along the length of the stem. The fronds provide a stunning explosion of vibrant green foliage that makes a stunning backdrop for any surrounding landscape.

New York Fern

The New York Fern is a native, deciduous species with delicate, lacy fronds and a distinctive appearance, commonly found in Eastern North American woodlands. These medium-sized, deciduous plants offer a delightful display of yellow-green fronds that carpet the forest floor. The appearance of this plant is that it is blade-shaped with triangular blades. The plant's blade is most comprehensive in the middle and tapers sharply at both ends. The New York Fern is a type of plant that grows well throughout the eastern part of North America, and it's found in large numbers throughout New York. This perennial might just be what you need to fill certain spaces in your yard that would benefit from greenery but might not as be as friendly towards some of the flowers that currently occupy your space. Let's see why this plant might be a good fit in your current landscape. New York Fern Reduces Soil Erosion and Weed Growth These plants are typically used as groundcover in areas where grass and other plants don't do as well. As a result, filling these spaces comes with some benefits. First, this plant takes root to prevent soil erosion in areas where soil isn't being kept in place by root systems. As an added benefit, the growth of this lush green plant throughout your yard makes it difficult for weeds to take root, preventing unwanted weed growth. The Fern Can Improve the Air Quality Around You These plants are adept at capturing pollutants from the air and making it so that you can breathe a bit easier and enjoy your outdoor space. If you're someone who's constantly being bothered by dust or pollen, consider adding this plant to your landscape along with others that are known to improve air quality. The Fern Is a Good Cover for Wildlife Without the Risk of Being Eaten Biodiversity is important on any property, and you'll find that this plant is a friend to local wildlife. For example, this ground cover is known to serve as a great cover for certain animals like toads. The better news? It's not a plant that's typically sought after by larger animals like deer, which means that it will provide cover for other animals until the cold weather comes in. TN Nursery Has A Wide Variety Of Ferns This plant is a fast-growing plant that will quickly establish itself in your space, and trailing rhizomes will constantly be shooting up additional fronds that provide an even thicker look to your space. If you're looking for something that's hard to ruin and will start thriving in certain spaces almost immediately, this is the ground cover to go with.

Maidenhair Fern

The Maidenhair Fern is a delicate, deciduous plant with finely divided, fan-shaped fronds and distinctive black stems, adding an elegant touch to shaded gardens and moist woodlands. It is an aesthetically pleasing plant that offers a range of benefits when used in landscaping. Its unique characteristics and visual appeal make it famous for outdoor and indoor spaces. The Maidenhair is prized for its delicate leaves and long lifespan. The scientific name is Adiantum SPP, and it's part of 250 species of these plants, including the Northern, Delta, and Southern Maidenhair ferns. The Greek part of the plants official name means unwetted, and it gets that name from its ability to shed water without truly getting damp. These plants are native to the Himalayas, East Asia, and the eastern part of North America. Maidenhair Fern Characteristics The Adiantum spp are prized for their fan-shaped leaves. They are known to make great houseplants and usually grow between one and two feet tall and the same in width. Their stems are wiry black, while the leaves are bright green. Gardeners can expect them to reach their full height in three years, and they can live up to 15 years with proper care. Best Places to Grow The Fern Adiantum SPP grows well in pots, containers, and terrariums, and they can be replanted as they outgrow their containers. In addition to making great container plants, they can be planted in shade gardens and hosta gardens. Benefits of The Fern The Adiantum SPP is known for its air purification qualities. The leaves draw in airborne toxins and are used as nutrients. This feature helps them clean the air wherever they are planted. They also release moisture, which can help combat dry indoor air. When the Adiantum SPP is planted outdoors, it can help stabilize loose soil and provide cover for wildlife, including frogs, lizards, and birds. In fact, birds will sometimes use the dried frons to line their nests. Companion Plants From TN Nursery The Adiantum SPP can be grown with a variety of other flowers and ferns, including the strawberry begonia, coral bells, ginger, woodland geraniums, bloodroot, hostas, hellebores, and pulmonarias. Gardeners can enjoy the calmness of the Adiantum SPP indoors and outdoors. They make great potted plants, and they look wonderful around water features and along hillsides. They can also be combined with many other types of ferns and flowers to create eye-catching garden beds.

Ostrich Fern

The Ostrich Fern is a large, deciduous fern with graceful, feathery fronds that resemble ostrich plumes, commonly found in moist woodland areas and prized for its ornamental value. It is a magnificent and beneficial plant with several advantages in landscaping projects. The Tall and Lovely Ostrich Fern It's an attractive dimorphic plant that gardeners use all year round to beautify their patches. In its nonfertile state, the plant grows to a height of 6 feet, the gorgeous fronds resembling plumes, hence the plant's name. In its fertile state, which occurs in the fall and early winter, it is much smaller. The shape is interesting, however, so it still provides pleasing shapes in a garden, even if that shape does change. The Different Phases of These Ferns When nonfertile, it is a rich, almost Kelly green, the arching fronds swooshing enticingly in the breeze. They offer quite a contrast with other blooming plants and serve as color anchors in a garden of flowers. They're hardy, too, so you can plant them nearly anywhere to beautify a particular place. Although they aren't green and sweeping in the winter, they're still attractive as they survive the cold and snow while the perennials are snoozing until the spring. TN Nursery Is A Environmental Friend First, its extensive root system is a great soil stabilizer, and the other plants in the garden will benefit thereby because its roots prevent erosion and nutrient loss in the soil. Second, they are a boon to various garden-dwelling wildlife. Several species of butterflies and beneficial insects rely on plants like it for shelter and as a place for egg laying and pupae maturation. Perhaps best of all, although fiddleheads are a delicacy for people when cooked, animals don't like their taste. So, you won't have to worry about rabbits, deer, and other woodland creatures venturing into the garden for a snack. The Serenity Of The Plant Practitioners of feng shui rely on it to bring harmony to both a dwelling and the garden adjacent to it. The way it morphs back into a verdant, thriving plant after being so much smaller throughout the winter indicates a symbolism of new beginnings, too.