Ferns are the correct ground layer under trees, at the base of stone walls, in the shade of north-facing foundation plantings, and in the transition between the maintained garden and the woodland edge. They are not alternative groundcovers. They are the plant that does what no other plant does in these conditions — covers the ground beautifully in deep shade, survives New England winters, and returns without attention every spring.
New England native ferns range from the delicate, lacy fronds of the maidenhair fern to the bold, upright fronds of the cinnamon fern, from the dense, spreading hay-scented fern to the evergreen, dark Christmas fern. Each has a distinct character and belongs in distinct conditions. Together they provide a varied, complex ground layer that reads as natural without being wild.
Key native ferns for Connecticut and New England landscapes by condition. Full shade, moist: cinnamon fern (Osmundastrum cinnamomeum) — 3 to 4 feet, dramatic upright form; royal fern (Osmunda regalis) — 4 to 6 feet, for wet conditions. Part shade, average: interrupted fern (Osmunda claytoniana), ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris) — aggressive spreader, use where coverage is desired. Full shade, dry: Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) — evergreen, very tolerant of dry shade; wood fern (Dryopteris marginalis). Sun to part shade, dry: hay-scented fern (Dennstaedtia punctilobula) — aggressive spreader, correct for slope coverage.
Native ferns require establishment watering for the first season and essentially no irrigation after that. They are not browsed by deer. They require no fertilizer, no pest management, and no winter protection. They die back to the ground in fall and return in spring. The evergreen species — Christmas fern, wood fern — retain their fronds through winter, providing ground cover year-round.
Native ferns in their correct conditions require less maintenance than any cultivated groundcover and provide more ecological value than any non-native plant in the same role. They are the correct choice for difficult shaded areas where turf grass will not grow and where cultivated groundcovers require ongoing maintenance to survive.
From native plant nurseries — Native Plant Trust, Prides Corner Farms, and Broken Arrow Nursery (Hamden, CT) carry a wide range. Specify Connecticut or New England ecotype for best establishment.
Native ferns in species appropriate to the specific light and moisture conditions of each planting area, for shaded ground layer planting in traditional New England landscape. Connecticut ecotype plant material. No fertilizer, no irrigation after establishment, no winter protection required. The correct fern in the correct condition is one of the most maintenance-free landscape investments available.
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