10 Types of Ferns That Thrive in Shady Gardens

Early Spring shade garden of Bleeding Hearts,Ferns,Soloman Seal,Hostas Clematis,and Creeping Jenny. All perennial plants that grow amazingly well in a shade garden. — Photo:
Solidago / Getty Images

If you have shady spots in your garden, consider planting ferns. Most ferns thrive in part to full shade, making them a great choice for bringing lush texture and dimension to your garden. They're also naturally deer-resistant, so you won't have to worry about anyone grazing on their beautiful, lacy fronds. You might also be surprised to learn that ferns can come in a range of colors, from bright green and silvery to ones tinged with red and purple—all of which will contrast wonderfully with the plants you already have. Ahead, our gardening experts give us their favorite types of ferns they love to plant.

Justin Hancock, horticulturist with Costa Farms
Laura Janney, gardening expert, botanical stylist, and founder of The Inspired Garden

01 of 10

Northern Maidenhair Fern

A native fern to North America, the northern maidenhair (Adiantum pedatum) can offer a bit of flair to your garden due to its unique shape and black veins. "This fern has palmately divided fronds (hand-shaped), rather than the traditional feather shape, giving it a distinctive look when planted with other fern varieties," says Justin Hancock, a horticulturist with Costa Farms.

Zones: 3 to 8
Mature Size: 1 to 3 feet tall x 1.5 to 3 feet wide
Care Requirements: Partial to full shade; moist, well-draining soil

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02 of 10

Japanese Painted Fern

Hancock enthusiastically recommends planting the Japanese painted fern (Athyrium niponicum var. pictum) in your garden. "This is one of my favorite hardy ferns of all time!" he says. "It’s a slow-growing selection that sports gray-green fronds that are flushed with silver and have contrasting purple-red midribs. It’s also delightfully polite—it won’t spread as fast as some other perennial ferns, so you don’t need to worry about it getting out of hand."

Zones: 3 to 8
Mature Size: 1.5 to 2 feet tall x 1.5 to 2 feet wide
Care Requirements: Partial to full shade; moist, well-draining soil

03 of 10

Ghost Fern

Ghost fern (Athyrium ‘Ghost’) is a hybrid between the Japanese painted fern and lady fern, says Hancock. Like the Japanese painted fern, it's slow growing and likes the shade. "Ghost Fern grows about 30 inches tall with lovely gray-green, silvery fronds and forms a graceful clump that looks good when massed or as an accent plant with other shade-loving varieties," he says.

Zones: 4 to 8
Mature Size: 2 to 2.5 feet tall x 1.5 to 2 feet wide
Care Requirements: Partial to full shade; moist, well-draining soil

04 of 10

Beech Fern

Beech fern (Phegopteris decursive-pinnata) has pretty, soft, pale green fronds that form in a clump in your garden. "Its upright, slightly arching fronds make it a fun statement to use with low-growing shade plants like wild ginger (Asarum canadense) or Ajuga," Hancock says.

Zones: 4 to 9
Mature Size: 1 to 2 feet tall x 1 to 2 feet wide
Care Requirements: Partial to full shade; moist (but not wet), well-draining soil, rich in organic matter

05 of 10

Korean Rock Fern

Korean Rock Fern (Polystichum luctuosum) is an evergreen fern ("depending on your winter," says Hancock) that displays beautiful green, shiny fronds with dark veins. "It’s a lovely contrast to hostas, particularly white-variegated selections, thanks to its rich color," says Hancock.

Zones: 6 to 9
Mature Size: 10 inches to 1 foot tall x 6 inches to 1.5 feet wide
Care Requirements: Partial to full shade; moist (but not wet), well-draining soil

06 of 10

Ostrich Ferns

Ostrich Fern (onoclea struthiopteris) can add height and dimension to your garden, notes Laura Janney, gardening expert, botanical stylist, and founder of The Inspired Garden. "We love using ostrich ferns because they are one of the taller ferns, perfect if you need height in your garden," she says. "Their plums are soft and dramatic and they take up a good amount of space in a garden."

Zones: 3 to 8
Mature Size: 3 to 5 feet tall x 2 to 4 feet wide
Care Requirements: Dappled sun to part shade; well-draining, loamy soil, but can also grow in sandy or clay-like soils

07 of 10

Lady Fern

Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina) is native to North America and thrives in moist shade gardens. "Lady ferns might be our favorite because they are so delicate, and their foliage is so lacy," says Janney.

Zones: 4 to 9
Mature Size: 1.5 to 2 feet tall x 1.5 to 2 feet wide
Care Requirements: Dappled sun to partial or deep shade; well-draining soil

08 of 10

Boston Fern

Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata), also known as sword fern, with its lush, showy fronds, is a decadent addition to any garden. It's commonly grown to be a houseplant, but it can also take space in your shade garden. Careful, though—the Boston Fern can spread quite quickly.

Zones: 10 to 13
Mature Size: 3 feet tall x 3 feet wide
Care Requirements: Full shade; loamy, well-draining soil

09 of 10

Christmas Fern

An evergreen fern, Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides), has a slightly darker tint to it, says Janney. It grows in clumps but doesn't spread and provides ground cover during the winter months.

Zones: 3 to 9
Mature Size: 1 to 3 feet tall x 1 to 3 feet wide
Care Requirements: Partial to full shade; moist, loamy, well-draining soil, but can also grow in sandy or shallow rocky soils

10 of 10

Button Fern

Button ferns (Hemionitis rotundifolia) are compact ferns that can be grown as an annual in certain zones, or brought inside as a container plant due to their small size. "We treat button ferns as annuals in our zone 7, but with their compact size, it is perfect for using in containers," says Janney. The fern is native to Australia and New Zealand, with arching fronds and glossy, dark green leaflets.

Zones: 9 to 11
Mature Size: 6 inches to 1 foot tall x 6 inches to 1 foot wide
Care Requirements: Partial shade,;well-draining, loamy soil but can also grow in clay or sandy soils

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