The main types of ferns for outdoor gardens are tall ferns like ostrich and cinnamon fern, lacy ferns like lady and New York fern, evergreen ferns like Christmas fern, and small ferns like walking and maidenhair fern. Pick by height, how much shade you have, and whether you want green leaves in winter.
Boston ferns, staghorns and bird's nest ferns are tender houseplants, best kept indoors. This guide is about the hardy, mostly native ferns that live outside year after year in shady beds, woodland edges and damp corners. TN Nursery is a third-generation family nursery in Altamont, Tennessee, growing native trees and plants since 1959, and this is its customer education site. Most of its ferns ship bare-root and dormant, so this guide also covers what to expect when the box arrives. To tell fern types apart, look at three things. First, the height and shape of the clump: a tall vase or a low mat. Second, the frond itself: lacy and finely cut, or bold and dark green. Third, the season: some ferns die back in fall, while evergreen ferns stay green through winter. The groups below follow those cues, so you can match a fern to your own spot.
Types of ferns for shade gardens
1. Tall ferns: ostrich fern and cinnamon fern
Tall ferns belong at the back of a bed or along a damp, shady wall. The Giant Ostrich Fern grows in a vase shape, about 2 to 6 feet tall, and spreads by underground runners into a wide patch. The Cinnamon Fern reaches about 3 to 4 feet. Spot it in spring by its upright, cinnamon-colored fertile fronds, the ones that carry spores. Both need moist soil.
Tip: Ostrich ferns spread, so dig out extra offshoots in late spring to keep them in bounds.
2. Lacy ferns: lady fern and New York fern
Lacy ferns have finely cut, feathery fronds that soften a shady path or border. The Lady Fern grows about 1 to 3 feet tall, with very lacy leaves, and likes shade and moist soil. The New York Fern is another feathery shade fern, listed by TN Nursery as deer resistant and suited to cold zones. Its fronds narrow at both the top and the bottom, a handy way to tell it from lady fern.
Tip: Plant lacy ferns in groups of three or more for a soft, even drift.
3. Evergreen ferns: Christmas fern for winter green
Most garden ferns die back in fall. Evergreen ferns keep their fronds through winter, so they are the ones to choose by a front door or path. The Christmas Fern grows about 2 to 3 feet tall with dark green fronds. It takes sun or deep shade. It is deer resistant and drought tolerant, so it suits drier shade under trees.
Tip: Trim last year's tired fronds in early spring, before new fiddleheads unroll.
4. Small ferns: walking fern and maidenhair fern
Small ferns fit rock gardens, pathsides and the front of a shady bed. The Walking Fern is among the smallest ferns TN Nursery grows, at about 6 inches. Its name comes from its long, narrow fronds, which root where their tips touch the ground. The Maidenhair Fern is easy to know by its thin, black, wiry stems and delicate leaflets. It grows best in medium shade.
Tip: Plant small ferns where you can see them up close, near a path or step.
Planting bare-root ferns of every type
Most ferns from TN Nursery, including the types above, ship bare-root and dormant. Expect a clump of dark, wiry roots around a firm crown, often with no green fronds at all. That is normal for a dormant fern. Open the box the day it arrives. If the roots feel dry, soak them in a bucket of water for an hour or two. Plant in shade or dappled light, in soil rich with leaf litter or compost. Set the crown level with the soil, never buried, then water deeply and mulch with shredded leaves. Keep the soil moist for the whole first year. Give ostrich and cinnamon ferns the widest spacing, and tuck walking ferns close to a path. For drier shade under trees, choose Christmas fern. Want several types at once? The 10 Shade Fern Plants Starter Pack and the Hardy Fern Trio are easy ways to start a mixed fern bed.
Care and keeping: In spring, new fronds unroll from tight coils called fiddleheads. Water new ferns deeply once or twice a week when there is no rain, enough to wet the soil several inches down. Leave old fronds in place over winter, then trim them in early spring. From the second year, most ferns need water only in long dry spells.
Frequently asked questions
What are tall ferns called?
Tall garden ferns include the ostrich fern and the cinnamon fern. Ostrich fern forms a vase-shaped clump about 2 to 6 feet tall and spreads by runners. Cinnamon fern reaches about 3 to 4 feet and sends up cinnamon-colored fertile fronds in spring. Both like shade and moist soil.
What are the different types of ferns?
For outdoor gardens, sort ferns into four easy groups: tall ferns such as ostrich and cinnamon fern, lacy ferns such as lady and New York fern, evergreen ferns such as Christmas fern, and small ferns such as walking and maidenhair fern. Indoor ferns are a separate group of tender houseplants.
What are the different types of indoor ferns?
Common indoor ferns include the Boston fern, with long trailing fronds for hanging baskets, the staghorn fern, which grows on wood or bark instead of soil, and the bird's nest fern, with wide, undivided leaves. These are tender houseplants. The ferns in this guide are hardy outdoor ferns for shady garden beds.
Keep reading
- When to Plant Ferns: A Bare-Root Timing Guide from TN Nursery
- Ground Cover for Shade: 4 Evergreen Picks from TN Nursery
Fern types compared by height and shade
| Fern | Height | Light | Evergreen | How to spot it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ostrich fern | 2 to 6 ft | Shade, moist soil | No | Vase-shaped clump that spreads by runners |
| Cinnamon fern | 3 to 4 ft | Shade, moist soil | No | Cinnamon-colored fertile fronds in spring |
| Lady fern | 1 to 3 ft | Shade, moist soil | No | Very lacy, finely cut fronds |
| New York fern | Low to medium | Shade | No | Fronds narrow at both ends |
| Christmas fern | 2 to 3 ft | Sun or deep shade | Yes | Dark green fronds all winter |
| Walking fern | About 6 in | Shade | Yes | Narrow fronds that root at the tips |
| Maidenhair fern | Low to medium | Medium shade | No | Thin, black, wiry stems |
