How to Grow Hardy Ferns in Shady Gardens

Ferns are the answer to the shady corners where little else will grow. Their lush, green fronds bring texture and calm to north-facing borders, the spaces under trees, and shady patio pots, and many keep their fronds all year.

Hardy garden ferns are tough and need very little care. Here's how to grow them.

Hardy Ferns at a Glance

• Hardiness: hardy garden ferns come through British winters outdoors without protection.
• Position: partial or full shade.
• Size: about 20cm to 1.5m, depending on the fern.
• When to plant: March to May, or September and October.
• Good for: shady borders, under trees, woodland gardens and shady pots.

This guide is about hardy outdoor ferns. Indoor ferns, such as the Boston fern, are houseplants that need warmth all year. See houseplant care in winter for those.

Which Fern for Which Spot?

• Soft shield fern (Polystichum setiferum): evergreen, with soft, finely divided fronds. It likes free drainage and dislikes winter wet.
• Male ferns and copper shield fern (Dryopteris): tough and reliable. Dryopteris is the one that genuinely copes with dry shade once settled. The copper shield fern has coppery young fronds.
• Fortune's holly fern (Cyrtomium fortunei): evergreen and hardy, with holly-like fronds.

Some ferns are evergreen and keep their fronds all year, while others, such as lady ferns and shuttlecock ferns, die back in winter and return in spring.

Where to Plant Ferns

Most ferns want shade and shelter, in soil rich in organic matter that holds moisture. Polystichum is the exception, preferring free drainage. Dryopteris is the best choice for dry shade under trees.

How to Plant

1. Dig in some well-rotted organic matter, such as leaf mould or garden compost.
2. Plant at the same depth the fern was growing in its pot, without burying the crown.
3. Water in well and add a mulch.

Caring for Ferns

• Watering: water new ferns in dry spells while they settle in, and keep ferns in pots moist.
• Tidying: in early spring, cut off old, tatty fronds before the new ones unfurl.
• Mulching: a yearly mulch of leaf mould or compost keeps the soil moist and rich.

Ferns: Your Questions Answered

Do ferns need shade?

Yes. Hardy ferns grow best in partial or full shade.

Which fern grows in dry shade?

Dryopteris, the male ferns, cope best with dry shade once they're settled in.

Are ferns evergreen?

Some are, such as Polystichum and Fortune's holly fern. Others die back in winter and return in spring.

Green Calm for Shady Corners

Plant a few ferns and your shadiest spots will become some of the most peaceful parts of the garden. Browse our ferns and grasses.

Our garden plants are grown in Britain by growers we know, including the Yorkshire nursery that grows most of them. We check every plant by hand before it's packed, and send it out ready for your garden.