Native Ferns and Their Environmental Benefits

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 the Ostrich Fern 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. Ostrich Fern: An 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 Ostrich Fern 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.

Christmas Fern

Christmas ferns are known for their evergreen fronds that stay green throughout the winter, making them a popular choice for holiday decorations. An evergreen fern that offers numerous landscaping benefits. Its elegant appearance, resilience, and adaptability make it a favorite choice for professional landscapers and homeowners alike. One of the key advantages of incorporating it into landscaping is its aesthetic appeal. Add Year-Round Cover With Christmas Fern The fronds of Christmas ferns are distinctive for their lustrous, dark green coloration. The crownless rootstock produces clusters of fronds that can be anywhere from one to two feet in length. Wintertime sees the delicate, light-green leaves changing color from green to golden. They are great for covering uneven terrain since they spread slowly from dormant rhizomes and develop in clusters. Add Vibrant Colors During the Winter With Christmas Ferns They keep their greenery throughout the year so they can start photosynthesis earlier. The presence of chlorophyll indicates the photosynthesis process is underway, as the color green indicates. These plants do not flower. They are spore-borne rather than gametophytic. They do boast verdant foliage from April to the first frost; these silvery green baby fronds, known as fiddleheads, emerge in the early spring as new leaves. Protect the Yard From Soil Erosion With Christmas Fern When they are in full bloom in winter, they press down on fallen leaves to hasten their decomposition and provide nutrients to the soil. This goes a long way in protecting the yard against soil erosion. Another way these plants stop soil erosion is by using their root systems to bind the soil together. Plus, when planted firmly in the ground, they create thick barriers made of stems that reduce the rate at which water flows through them. Create Natural Landscapes and Habitats With a Christmas Fern A lot of people like to plant it in their yards because of the texture and foliage they provide. They do a great job at creating natural-looking landscapes. The fact that they are hardy enough to survive light snowfall and cold makes them perfect for winter gardening. They can also handle a large range of soil types and flourish in partly shady or entirely shaded locations. Birds, insects, and even small mammals may find food and refuge under them. The dense vegetation provides great cover for ground-dwelling species. The plants conceal prey from predators by shading other animals and invertebrates that feed on the ground.

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 Maidenhair 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 Planting Maidenhair 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. Preferred Maidenhair Fern Companion Plants 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.

Royal Fern

The Royal Fern is a Large, striking fern with feathery fronds and a distinctive crown of fertile fronds, typically found in wetland habitats and appreciated for their ornamental appeal in gardens. The royal fern is distinctive from other plants in the class because of its notable size. Specifically, this is one of the largest that grows outside of tropical zones in the United States. Also known as the osmunda regalis, the plant thrives in areas of the yard that are moist, including both shady and partially shady spots. Why should you include it in your landscaping plans? The Eye-Catching Aesthetics Of Royal Fern The plant is appropriately named because it can grow up to six feet tall, and its size at maturity often makes it a strong focal point in yards. The fronds can be as wide as 16 inches, and they feature up to nine pairs of pinna that each have up to 13 pinnules. These qualities, combined with the healthy green color and the point shape of the fronts, add a rich texture to your yard that elevates aesthetics. The Wildlife Attraction and Tolerance Of Royal Fern While some wildlife is welcome in your yard, other wildlife can cause considerable damage and should be deterred. The potential damage from foragers like deer and rabbits is deterred as these animals do not use this plant for food. However, turtles, birds, and frogs, which generally do not cause damage, often seek shelter in their bushy leaves. Royal Fern Is A Natural Pest Deterrent While hungry insects often feed on various types of plants, it is well-known for repelling them. Specifically, the recognizable leaves have special proteins that repel many types of insects. Any insects that do find their way to these plants often become food for the birds and other animals that live under the fronds for protection from the elements and their natural predators. The Contained Growth Of Royal Fern There is little concern about these lush plants outgrowing their allocated space when they are planted three feet apart, as recommended. This is because the plants grow only a few inches each year and do not need to be cut back to prevent overgrowth. As a result, it takes many years for the plant to reach its full size, and minimal care of this low-maintenance plant is required over the years.

Cinnamon Fern

The Cinnamon Fern is a large type of deciduous plant characterized by its distinctive, cinnamon-colored fertile fronds standing upright in the plant's center. It is a captivating and versatile plant with numerous landscaping benefits. This plant, native to eastern North America, has become famous for gardeners and landscapers due to its aesthetic appeal, adaptability, and environmental contributions. Cinnamon Fern grows to a height of some 6 feet and spreads out about 4 feet on its black stalks. The unfurled pinnae are Kelly green on top, while the fronds in the center of the plant, which give it its name, are dark brown and resemble sticks of cinnamon because they grow straight up. Cinnamon Fern In The Springtime Early in the spring, the central fronds that turn brown later start out life as silver-colored fiddleheads. They're covered in fur, too, charmingly "shaking off the cold of winter." The broad fronds on the stalks form a cute rosette around the central stalks. The silver fiddleheads match well with Fescue or Brunner. Those fiddleheads appear early in the year when the top of the fern is clumped together in a cute bundle. As the Cinnamon Fern Opens When the fiddleheads are ready to open, the silver hair on them turns brown and clings to the base of the pinnae as they expand to their full glory. The large, broad pinnae on 3-foot fronds is the sterile variety. In the center of the plant, the cinnamon-colored fronds with much smaller pinnae are the fertile fronds. The plant's attractiveness comes from the contrast between the two frond types. Secondarily, the contrast between the expanded fronds and any nearby silver flowers, which they used to match, is equally striking in effect. When it comes to the sterile fronds, they can hold almost two dozen pinnae that taper gently in size from large to small, creating a shape that almost resembles a palm frond made up of pinnae. The Sporangia Of The Cinnamon Fern This plant doesn't have sori. Instead, it has sporangia that surround the stalk of the fertile frond. These turn brown as they open and give the plant its name. Up close, they're made up of tiny dots that wrap around the stalk in fine, beautiful shapes. From the time the plants peek through until the fiddleheads unfurl, it is about a week during the spring. During this time, you can see the shape of the pinnae and fronds develop and become full members of the garden for that year. Cinnamon Fern The Focal Point These ferns make an attractive, striking, and attention-grabbing entry in any garden, and because they're perennial, they'll be back every year to be a lovely garden anchor.

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. New York 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 New York 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. Grows Fast and Gets Thicker With Time 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.