Ferns

Five Finger Maidenhair Fern is a lovely woodland native, thriving in moist humus rich soils.  Preferring cool summer temperatures, Adiantum pedatum is hardy all the way to zone 2.  The bright green airy fronds are made more attractive by the shiny wiry black stems.  Since Adiantum pedatum spreads by rhizomes on the surface of moist soils, it can eventually form an excellent woodland groundcover.  This fern will not perform well in full sun or hot summer sites.

Lady Fern has green lacy foliage, and is a deciduous clump. It is relatively sun tolerant, in spite of its fine foliage.  Athyrium filix-femina is found in rich moist woods, thickets, fields, meadows and ravines throughout northern North America.  A good filler for moist woodland gardens.

The medium green delicate foliage of 'Lady in Red' Lady Fern is set off by deep burgundy red stems for a striking effect.  Athyrium filix-femina Lady In Red grows slightly smaller than the species.  A deciduous clump.

Japanese Painted Fern has very showy fronds, soft grayish green with an overlay of silvery hues accented by contrasting dark maroon midribs.  Fronds will become greener with the summer heat.  It is a deciduous creeper. Athyrium nipponicum 'Pictum' was the 2004 Perennial Plant of the Year.

‘Regal Red’ Japanese Painted Fern lights up shady spots with a beautiful combination of silver and burgundy red coloration on the delicately cut fronds. The dark red is displayed primarily on the interior of the frond, and it leaches outward to bright silver outer edges. Although a slow spreader, Athyrium nipponicum ‘Regal Red’ will eventually colonize a shady location well.

'Ghost' Lady Fern is a hybrid of A. filix-femina and A. nipponicum 'Pictum'. This fern combines the best of its parents in its brilliant silvery coloring on a light green background. The habit of Athyrium x 'Ghost' is somewhat upright and the color lights up dark spots amazingly. A deciduous clump which slowly widens, 'Ghost' was found in a garden in Richmond, Virginia as a spontaneous seedling.