The Benefits of Growing Native Ferns in Your Outdoor Space

by Tammy Sons – September 01, 2023

Native ferns are fascinating plants that can benefit your outdoor space

These ancient plants have evolved over millions of years and adapted to various climates and ecosystems worldwide. Growing native ferns in your garden or outdoor area can enhance its beauty, promote biodiversity, and provide a habitat for wildlife. This article explores the benefits of incorporating native ferns into your outdoor space, highlighting their aesthetic appeal, environmental advantages, and contribution to ecosystem conservation.

I. Aesthetic Appeal: Diverse and Unique Foliage: Native ferns exhibit a wide range of leaf shapes, textures, and colors, making them visually captivating additions to any garden. Their delicate fronds and intricate patterns create a sense of tranquility and elegance, adding interest and diversity to the overall landscape design.

Year-Round Interest: Unlike many other plants, native ferns can provide visual interest throughout the year. Even during the winter months, when most plants are dormant, some fern species retain their green foliage, providing a touch of vibrancy to your outdoor space.

Versatile Use in Landscaping: Native ferns can be integrated into various garden designs, including woodland gardens, rock gardens, shade gardens, or understory plants beneath trees. They can be utilized as groundcovers, border plants, or focal points, offering endless possibilities for creative landscaping arrangements.

II. Environmental Benefits: Soil Stabilization: Native ferns have fibrous root systems that help prevent soil erosion. Their extensive root networks bind the soil together, reducing the risk of runoff and improving water infiltration, particularly on sloping terrains.

Moisture Regulation: Ferns are excellent at regulating moisture levels in the surrounding environment. They can capture and retain rainwater, thus reducing stormwater runoff and supporting natural water cycles. By growing native ferns, you can contribute to mitigating local flooding and maintaining healthy soil moisture levels.

Air Purification: Like other green plants, ferns play a crucial role in purifying the air by sponging carbon dioxide and casting oxygen during photosynthesis. Their presence can help improve air quality and create a more nourishing habitat for humans and wildlife.

III. Biodiversity and Habitat Creation: Supporting Native Species: By growing native ferns, and promote biodiversity in your outdoor space. Butterfly and Moth Host Plants: Many fern species act as host plants for butterflies and moths, serving as a critical food source for their caterpillars. By incorporating native ferns into your garden, you can attract and support a diverse range of these delicate pollinators, enhancing the ecological balance in your outdoor space.

Bird and Insect Habitat: Ferns, with their intricate fronds, offer shelter and nesting opportunities for various bird species. Additionally, the dense foliage of ferns provides an ideal environment for beneficial insects, such as pollinators and pest predators, contributing to a healthy and balanced ecosystem.

IV. Ecosystem Conservation: Preserving Native Plant Communities: By growing native ferns, you actively participate in conserving local plant communities and their associated ecosystems. Native plants have co-evolved with local fauna and are often better adapted to withstand local environmental conditions, making them essential for preserving regional biodiversity.

Invasive Species Control: Native ferns can help suppress the growth of invasive plant species. Their dense foliage and rapid growth can outcompete invasive plants, preventing their spread and reducing the need for chemical herbicides.

Education and Awareness: Growing native ferns in your outdoor space provides an opportunity to educate others about the importance of native plant conservation and biodiversity benefits. Sharing your knowledge and experiences can inspire others to adopt sustainable gardening practices and contribute to a healthier environment.

Conclusion: The benefits of growing native ferns in your outdoor space range from aesthetic appeal to environmental advantages and ecosystem conservation. These resilient and captivating plants offer an array of textures, colors, and forms, creating a visually stunning landscape throughout the year. Native ferns also contribute to soil stabilization, moisture regulation, and air purification while supporting local biodiversity and creating habitats for wildlife.

By embracing native ferns, you can transform your outdoor space into a thriving ecosystem that promotes sustainability, conservation, and appreciation for the natural world. Growing native ferns in your outdoor space can be a rewarding and relatively straightforward endeavor. Native ferns have specific requirements for optimal growth, and understanding these factors will help ensure their successful cultivation.

Here are some critical steps to consider when growing native ferns in your outdoor space: Research Native Fern Species: Research native fern species suitable for your region. Local nurseries, botanical gardens, or native plant societies can provide valuable information about fern species native to your area. Consider factors such as sunlight requirements, soil preferences, and moisture needs to choose suitable ferns for your outdoor space.

Most native ferns thrive in shady or partially shaded areas with indirect sunlight

Choose a location in your outdoor space that provides the ideal light conditions for the specific fern species you plan to grow. Evade putting them in direct sunlight, which can scorch their delicate fronds.

Prepare the Soil: Native ferns generally prefer well-drained, humus-rich soils. Prepare the ground by removing any weeds, rocks, or debris. If the soil in your outdoor space is heavy or clay-like, consider amending it with organic matter to improve drainage and nutrient content.

Planting: Dig a spot that is just bigger than the root ball of your fern. Gently place the fern into the hole, ensuring that the top of the root ball is level with the soil surface. Backfill the hole with soil, hardening it gently around the plant. Water the newly planted fern thoroughly to resolve the ground and provide moisture to the roots.

Watering: Native ferns typically prefer moist soil conditions. While they prefer to avoid being constantly waterlogged, keeping the soil moist is essential, especially during establishment. Water deeply and regularly, but avoid overwatering, as this can lead to root rot. Adding organic mulch around your ferns can help retain soil moisture, regulate soil temperature, and suppress weed growth. Use a natural mulch, such as wood chunks or slivered leaves, and distribute it around the base of the plants, leaving a small gap around the stem to prevent rot.

Maintenance: Regular maintenance practices will promote the health and vigor of your native ferns. Remove any dead or damaged fronds to maintain a tidy appearance and allow new growth to emerge. Avoid excessive fertilization, as ferns generally thrive in nutrient-rich soils.

However, if the foliage shows signs of nutrient deficiencies, apply a slow-release, balanced organic fertilizer according to the manufacturer's instructions. Protection from Pests and Diseases: Native ferns resist many common pests and diseases.

However, watching for slug damage, aphids, or fungal infections is still essential. Take appropriate measures, such as handpicking pests or using organic pest control methods, to protect your ferns from damage. Observing and Enjoying: Take the time to watch and enjoy the growth and development of your native ferns.

Notice how they respond to different seasons and environmental conditions. Over time, you'll better appreciate these ancient plants and their unique characteristics. By following these guidelines and adapting them to the specific needs of the native fern species you choose, you can successfully grow and nurture these beautiful plants in your outdoor space.

2 Easy Ferns To Grow

Cinnamon Fern

Lady fern

Patience and consistent care are vital to establishing healthy and thriving native ferns in your garden

 

Products from the article

fiddlehead fern

Fiddlehead Fern

Fiddlehead ferns are tightly coiled shoots resembling the scroll of a violin and are often used as a culinary delicacy. Their young, coiled fronds, such as the Ostrich type (Matteuccia struthiopteris), offer several benefits when landscaping projects. These unique and visually appealing plants have been admired for their charming appearance and practical uses in outdoor spaces. Fiddlehead Fern is native to North America, northern Asia, and Europe. In North America, they are most commonly found in Eastern Canada, southern Alaska, and from Maine to Illinois. Matteuccia Struthiopteris gets its name from the crowns it develops in the spring. These crowns or fonds tend to resemble the heads of violins or feathers. The Looks Of Fiddlehead Fern It is famous for its vase shape and tall curled fonds. On average, gardeners can expect them to grow between three and four feet tall and one foot wide. However, once well established, they can grow up to six feet tall and have a width of up to eight feet. They are found naturally in wooded areas that have rivers or streams. It is considered a deciduous perennial that grows upright. They don't develop flowers. Instead, the leaves are bright to medium green. The plant grows its fiddleheads in the spring, and they can reach heights of one and a half feet tall. Where to Plant Fiddlehead Fern in Your Garden They grow well in areas that lack full sun. Gardeners can enjoy planting them in shade gardens, along walls, and around trees and tall shrubs. When they develop their spore-bearing fronds in the summer, gardeners can dry them and use them in flower bouquets or arrangements in vases. It covers frogs and birds, especially robins, wrens, and wood thrushes, which tend to forage in them. These may also attract turtles, butterflies, and bees. Fiddlehead Ferns Companion Plants It grows well next to green ash, Virginia bluebells, wild ginger, swamp buttercup, common elderberry, golden Alexander, and wild blue phlox. It can also be planted under or near the American elm and silver maple tree. It makes beautiful additions to shade gardens and helps fill empty spaces under trees and around shrubs. It also has around water features in any area resembling its natural habitats.
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Cinnamon Fern - TN Nursery

Cinnamon Fern

The Cinnamon Fern is a large deciduous plant characterized by its distinctive, brown-colored fertile fronds standing upright in the center. It is captivating and versatile and has 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 6 feet and spreads 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 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 plant is clumped together in a cute bundle. As the Cinnamon Fern Opens When the fiddleheads are ready to open, their silver hair 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 brown-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 they used to match is equally striking. 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 nearly 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 delicate, 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 makes 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.
From $10.99
From $10.99

Best Sellers

Lady Fern - TN Nursery

Lady Fern

The Lady Fern is a delicate, feathery-textured fern with finely divided, lacy fronds often found in moist, shaded woodland environments. It is a graceful and versatile fern species that offers a range of benefits when incorporated into landscaping designs. The fern's delicate fronds, adaptability, and aesthetic contributions make it a sought-after choice for enhancing outdoor spaces. The Lady Fern Can Get 5 Feet Tall Lady Fern, scientifically known as Athyrium filix-femina, is a natural perennial that can reach a height of five feet. Their large, lacy leaves are a brilliant green, each growing as wide as a foot. The leaves are a verdant green as the summer progresses, but they turn a golden yellow as winter approaches. The stems of the fronds might be green, purple, or red. As the temperature decreases in the autumn, the leaves fall off; they always grow back in the spring. A cluster of these plants will form around the original plant as they spread out from a core base. They are more tolerant of dry soils than other plants and can even handle partial sunshine in damp soil. Lady Fern Helps Fight Soil Erosion  The rhizome root systems of Lady Fern plants play a significant role in soil stabilization. You can use the fronds that fall from them as mulch. These plants also enhance soil erosion prevention through their dense plant cover and unique slope adaptation. Because of their fibrous root systems and thick, verdant foliage, they are great for creating homes for animals in their native environments. Many small animals, like beetles and spiders, find cover and a place to lay their eggs among the complex fronds while the plant protects them from danger. Birds and other animals, including amphibians and reptiles, feed on the plant's decaying matter, fungi, and other organic material in the soil and leaf litter for sustenance. The Lady Fern Has Been Around For Millions Of Years  They have been around for a long time in American woods, but they've just lately become popular as landscaping plants. They work excellently as garden borders, which helps keep certain animals away. With their somewhat tall stature, they are also perfect for layering borders in the garden. They provide a lovely low-front or mid-height addition when planted toward the front or center of the border, respectively.
From $9.99
From $9.99
fiddlehead fern

Fiddlehead Fern

Fiddlehead ferns are tightly coiled shoots resembling the scroll of a violin and are often used as a culinary delicacy. Their young, coiled fronds, such as the Ostrich type (Matteuccia struthiopteris), offer several benefits when landscaping projects. These unique and visually appealing plants have been admired for their charming appearance and practical uses in outdoor spaces. Fiddlehead Fern is native to North America, northern Asia, and Europe. In North America, they are most commonly found in Eastern Canada, southern Alaska, and from Maine to Illinois. Matteuccia Struthiopteris gets its name from the crowns it develops in the spring. These crowns or fonds tend to resemble the heads of violins or feathers. The Looks Of Fiddlehead Fern It is famous for its vase shape and tall curled fonds. On average, gardeners can expect them to grow between three and four feet tall and one foot wide. However, once well established, they can grow up to six feet tall and have a width of up to eight feet. They are found naturally in wooded areas that have rivers or streams. It is considered a deciduous perennial that grows upright. They don't develop flowers. Instead, the leaves are bright to medium green. The plant grows its fiddleheads in the spring, and they can reach heights of one and a half feet tall. Where to Plant Fiddlehead Fern in Your Garden They grow well in areas that lack full sun. Gardeners can enjoy planting them in shade gardens, along walls, and around trees and tall shrubs. When they develop their spore-bearing fronds in the summer, gardeners can dry them and use them in flower bouquets or arrangements in vases. It covers frogs and birds, especially robins, wrens, and wood thrushes, which tend to forage in them. These may also attract turtles, butterflies, and bees. Fiddlehead Ferns Companion Plants It grows well next to green ash, Virginia bluebells, wild ginger, swamp buttercup, common elderberry, golden Alexander, and wild blue phlox. It can also be planted under or near the American elm and silver maple tree. It makes beautiful additions to shade gardens and helps fill empty spaces under trees and around shrubs. It also has around water features in any area resembling its natural habitats.
From $9.99
From $9.99
Cinnamon Fern - TN Nursery

Cinnamon Fern

The Cinnamon Fern is a large deciduous plant characterized by its distinctive, brown-colored fertile fronds standing upright in the center. It is captivating and versatile and has 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 6 feet and spreads 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 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 plant is clumped together in a cute bundle. As the Cinnamon Fern Opens When the fiddleheads are ready to open, their silver hair 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 brown-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 they used to match is equally striking. 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 nearly 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 delicate, 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 makes 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.
From $10.99
From $10.99

Best Sellers

Lady Fern - TN Nursery

Lady Fern

The Lady Fern is a delicate, feathery-textured fern with finely divided, lacy fronds often found in moist, shaded woodland environments. It is a graceful and versatile fern species that offers a range of benefits when incorporated into landscaping designs. The fern's delicate fronds, adaptability, and aesthetic contributions make it a sought-after choice for enhancing outdoor spaces. The Lady Fern Can Get 5 Feet Tall Lady Fern, scientifically known as Athyrium filix-femina, is a natural perennial that can reach a height of five feet. Their large, lacy leaves are a brilliant green, each growing as wide as a foot. The leaves are a verdant green as the summer progresses, but they turn a golden yellow as winter approaches. The stems of the fronds might be green, purple, or red. As the temperature decreases in the autumn, the leaves fall off; they always grow back in the spring. A cluster of these plants will form around the original plant as they spread out from a core base. They are more tolerant of dry soils than other plants and can even handle partial sunshine in damp soil. Lady Fern Helps Fight Soil Erosion  The rhizome root systems of Lady Fern plants play a significant role in soil stabilization. You can use the fronds that fall from them as mulch. These plants also enhance soil erosion prevention through their dense plant cover and unique slope adaptation. Because of their fibrous root systems and thick, verdant foliage, they are great for creating homes for animals in their native environments. Many small animals, like beetles and spiders, find cover and a place to lay their eggs among the complex fronds while the plant protects them from danger. Birds and other animals, including amphibians and reptiles, feed on the plant's decaying matter, fungi, and other organic material in the soil and leaf litter for sustenance. The Lady Fern Has Been Around For Millions Of Years  They have been around for a long time in American woods, but they've just lately become popular as landscaping plants. They work excellently as garden borders, which helps keep certain animals away. With their somewhat tall stature, they are also perfect for layering borders in the garden. They provide a lovely low-front or mid-height addition when planted toward the front or center of the border, respectively.
From $9.99
From $9.99
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