Ferns

Our ferns are grown from spores and have not been collected in the wild. They are 1-year old dormant plants with heavy crowns and produce fuller, more lush containers. Some evergreen varieties may be shipped with old foliage, but new fronds will quickly unfurl after transplanting. Dormant varieties will be shipped without foliage. All of our ferns should be transplanted into gallons or larger containers, and should be ready for sale in 4-5 weeks.

Plant: Make sure plugs are adequately moist prior to planting. Soil should be well-drained with pH 5.5 - 6.5. Center crown and plant at soil level. Planting too deep will delay shoot development or cause the crown to rot. Planting too high may dry out the plug and crown from being too exposed to the sun.

Grow: Although most ferns prefer cool temperatures, it is best to grow them slightly warmer at 60 - 65F, escpecially the Athyrium types that do not have visible crowns.

Light Levels: Provide 50% shade ( below 2500 foot candles ) for optimum growth, especially in late spring. Too much light produces light green to yellow foliage. Lower light levels produces more lush and dark green foliage.

Water: It is important to keep ferns evenly moist and never allow them to dry out. Like Astilbe, allowing them to wilt could be deadly. Water early in the day to prevent botrytis and foliar diseases.

Fertilizer: Ferns are light feeders, requiring only 75 - 100 ppm Nitrogen for good growth.

Marketing Hint: Protect ferns from high winds. Once fronds break, they do not come back.

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Height

Size

Qty

Athyrium filix-femina light green lacy fronds, will tolerate more sun with good moisture... [ More Info ]

3-9

24-30"

3" Plug

30

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Athyrium filix-femina 'Frizelliae' very unique form of Lady Fern with long narrow fronds with alternating half scalloped leaflets along the center stem, a bit more compact with a graceful arching habit... [ More Info ]

3-9

12-14"

3" Plug

30

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Athyrium filix-femina 'Ghost' a hybrid of Jap. Painted Fern and Lady Fern, taller and more upright with broad apple green fronds frosted with gray, a great highlight for the shade garden... [ More Info ]

3-9

24-36"

3" Plug

30

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Athyrium filix-femina 'Victoriae' very unique fronds with narrow leaflets that are crested at the ends, very unusual and sure to generate conversation in the garden... [ More Info ]

3-9

24-30"

3" Plug

30

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Athyrium filix-femina hybrid 'Lady in Red' colorful new fern with mint green lacy fronds accented with burgundy red stems, red color intensifies with age, a nice color addition to the fern garden... [ More Info ]

3-9

24-30"

3" Plug

30

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Athyrium hybrid 'Brandford Beauty' a hybrid of Jap. Painted and Lady Fern, has similar upright growth as a Lady Fern but has the silvery gray coloration from Japanese Painted fern, reddish stems add additional color and interest, clump forming, great for mass plantings... [ More Info ]

3-9

23-25"

3" Plug

30

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Athyrium niponicum 'Metallicum' highly variegated, green fronds are shaded with silver and highlighted with burgundy red, colors become more intense with some morning or afternoon sun... [ More Info ]

3-9

14-18"

3" Plug

30

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Athyrium niponicum 'Red Beauty' silver and burgundy variegated fronds similar to Metallicum accented with bright red stems and reddish central veins, wonderful tricolor effect... [ More Info ]

3-9

14-18"

3" Plug

30

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Zone

Height

Size

Qty

Dryopteris affinis Cristata 'The King' a large magnificant fern, long arching shiny green fronds have crested (split) leaflets for a frilly and ruffled appereance, slightly more sun tolerant... [ More Info ]

3-9

35-37"

3.5"pot

24

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Dryopteris erythrosora early spring fronds are copper colored, turning deep glossy green by summer and then coppery again in fall, evergreen... [ More Info ]

5-9

18-24"

3.5"pot

24

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Dryopteris erythrosora 'Brilliance' selection of Autumn Fern with brighter copper-red coloring when fronds first emerge and again in the fall, more sun will intensify the color... [ More Info ]

5-9

12-14"

3.5"pot

24

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Dryopteris filix-mas tall erect light green fronds, very easy to grow and very adaptable, tolerates sun, deciduous... [ More Info ]

3-9

24-36"

3.5"pot

24

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Dryopteris filix-mas 'Crispa Cristata' medium green fronds are forked (split) and twisted at the tips creating a more frilly effect, very showy and unusual, use as an accent fern... [ More Info ]

3-9

24-36"

3.5"pot

24

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Dryopteris marginalis vigorous growing fern with dark blue-green sturdy fronds, more drought tolerant than others, easy to grow and most often used in the bouquets... [ More Info ]

3-9

24-30"

3.5"pot

24

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Zone

Height

Size

Qty

Matteuccia struthiopteris very tall vase-shaped form with gracefully arching fronds, very adaptable and tolerates some sun, deciduous... [ More Info ]

3-9

36-48"

3" Plug

30

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Zone

Height

Size

Qty

Osmunda cinnamomea very large upright fronds, cinnamon-colored spore bearing fronds arise from the center, very showy... [ More Info ]

3-9

36-60"

3.5"pot

24

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Osmunda claytoniana a large robust fern with an upright growth habit similar to Cinnamon Fern, large light green fronds arch from a central crown, spore bearing fronds have brownish capsules halfway up the frond instead of leaflets thus the name Interrupted Fern, good f... [ More Info ]

3-9

24-40"

3.5"pot

24

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Osmunda regalis a large slow spreading fern with narrow upright fronds, fronds first emerge soft green on narrow stems and mature to blue green, prefers moist areas... [ More Info ]

3-9

36-48"

3.5"pot

24

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Osmunda regalis 'purpurascens' similar to Royal Fern except emerging fronds and stems are reddish-purple, fronds gradually mature to a bright green by summer while the stems remain purple, prefers moist soil and filtered shade... [ More Info ]

3-9

36-48"

3.5"pot

24

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Zone

Height

Size

Qty

Polystichum acrostichoides forms neat clumps of dark green leathery fronds, fronds first emerge with a more upright growth habit and then flatten out as the summer porgresses, a native fern that is very easy to grow, evergreen foliage, tolerates more sun with adequate moisture... [ More Info ]

3-9

18-24"

3.5"pot

24

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Polystichum polyblepharum very glossy dark green fronds are finely cut for a more lacy affect, more upright growth habit, evergreen... [ More Info ]

5-9

23-25"

3.5"pot

24

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