Hardy Ferns - Adiantum to Woodwardia:

ADIANTUM (Adiantaceae)
hispidulum £ 4.50
(ROSY MAIDENHAIR FERN.) A pretty fern for a cool shady spot in humus-rich soil. The pedate fronds (arranged like bird's feet) are held on rough upright stipes, or stems. Evergreen in warm gardens. 50 cms (1½ feet).
ASPLENIUM (Aspleniaceae)
Genus of evergreen and semi evergreen ferns found virtually all over the world. Grow in humush-rich, moist soil in shade. Some, including A. scolopendrium and its varieties prefer alkaline soil and are suitable for chalk.
Asplenium scolopendrium scolopendrium agm £ 4.50
(HART`S TONGUE FERN.) Evergreen fern with glossy, uncut, strap-shaped leaves. For fertile, moist soil in part shade. Prefers alkaline soil but should be OK in neutral. Sometimes develops rust during wet winters. Simply cut off infected & dying fronds in spring as new ones begin to appear in spring. 50 cms (1½ feet).
Asplenium scolopendrium Angustatum scolopendrium 'Angustatum' £ 4.75
(SPLEENWORT.) Cultivar with strap-shaped fronds with attractively crimped margins. Evergreen 30 cms (1 foot).
ATHYRIUM (Woodsiaceae)
Genus of deciduous ferns usually found growing in damp woodland in temperate regions. Grow in moist, humus-rich, neutral to acidic soil in shade. They are not suited to a very exposed site, preferring reasonable shelter. Ideal for a woodland garden.
felix-femina 'Victoriae' £ 5.00
(VICTORIA LADY FERN.) Popular with the Victorians, this distinctive form of the Lady Fern has narrow pinnae, arranged criss-cross fashion, each with a terminal crest. 45 CMS (1½ feet).
Athyrium niponicum v. pictum Ursulas Red niponicum v. pictum 'Ursulas Red' £ 4.75
(JAPANESE PAINTED FERN.) Stunning looking fern with metallic, bi-pinnate fronds with a dark red stripe down the middle. 45 cms (1½ feet).
niponicum v. pictum agm £ 4.75
(JAPANESE PAINTED FERN.) Low growing bi-pinnate fern with silvery fronds with a redish mid-rib. 30 cms (1 foot).
Athyrium nipponicum Silver Falls nipponicum 'Silver Falls' £ 4.75
(JAPANESE PAINTED FERN.) A superb cultivar with bi-pinnate, silvery fronds and contrasting red veins. May start into growth later than other ferns. 30 cms (1 foot).
Athyrium otophorum var. okanum otophorum var. okanum £ 4.75
(EARED LADY FERN.) This fern has fresh yellow-green, bi-pinnate fronds and contrasting red-tinged stalks which brighten up a shady spot. Also nice in a container. 45 cms (1½ feet).
CHEILANTHES (Adiantaceae)
These mainly evergreen ferns are found growing in rocky crevices and even semi-desert areas. They are therefore very drought tolerant and prefer full sun although a little shade is tolerated. They require sharp drainage (especially in winter) so ideal for a rockery. They have minute hairs on the fronds to reduce water loss. In drought conditions they roll up their fronds to further reduce water loss.
Cheilanthes lanosa lanosa £ 4.75
(HAIRY LIP FERN, WOOLLY LIP FERN.) Syn C. tomentosa. Species from N. America with grey-green, lance-shaped, tri- pinnate fronds with silvery scales on the reverse and dark purple stems. 30 cms (1 foot).
CYRTOMIUM (Dryopteridaceae)
These evergreen, sometimes deciduous ferns are found growing in woodland in Central and Eastern Asia. They are much bolder, having less divided fronds than many other ferns. Grow in moist, humus-rich, well drained soil in part/full shade.
falcatum agm £ 4.75
(JAPANESE HOLLY FERN.) Species from Japan which is evergreen in a sheltered position but often deciduous in cold areas. It has broad, pointed, alternate, glossy green fronds, reminiscent of a Holly. Makes a nice pot plant for a cool shady position indoors where conditions outdoors are too harsh.. 60 cms (2 feet).
fortunei var. clivicola £ 4.75
Evergreen variety with leathery fronds, the leaflets (called 'pinnae') are quite large and un-cut, in contrast to most other ferns. At a glance it resembles Mahonia foliage. Makes a nice pot- plant, indoors as well as out, and the fronds are useful in flower arranging. 30 cms (1 foot).
DRYOPTERIS (Dryopteridaceae)
These mostly deciduous ferns are found in woodland, mountains, and by streams in the Northern Hemisphere. Most are the classic fern shape with upright bi-pinnate fronds and are ideal for most shady gardens. They prefer moist, humus-rich soil in a shady, sheltered site. D. affinis and its varieties however, do tolerate more windy conditions than other species.
affinis 'Cristata' agm £ 4.75
Semi-evergreen fern with narrow fronds, terminating in tassel-like crests. 1 metre (3 feet).
cycadina agm £ 4.75
(SHAGGY WOOD FERN.) (Syn D. atrata). A semi-evergreen fern with a shuttle-cock of long lance-shaped, pinnate fronds, these being dark green with contrasting black stems (strictly these are called 'stipes'). Orignates in Asia, from N. India to Japan. 75 cms (2½ feet).
Dryopteris erythrosora erythrosora agm £ 4.75
(AUTUMN FERN.) Usually deciduous but can be evergreen in a sheltered spot. The glossy new, fronds are a beautiful pinky- bronze colour (this gives it its common name even though it appears in spring), contrasting with the mature dark green fronds. Native to Japan and China 60 cms (2 feet).
felix-mas £ 4.50
(MALE FERN.) The common Male fern native to Europe and North America with large lance-shaped mid-green fronds. Robust and able to put up with the worst weather conditions we get here in the UK. 90 cms (3 feet).
goldieana £ 4.75
(GOLDIE'S WOOD FERN.) A large fern with dramatic 4 ft. fronds, best in acidic woodland, where it will tolerate dryish conditions though probably be smaller in size. (4 feet).
Dryopteris sieboldii sieboldii £ 4.75
(SIEBOLD'S WOOD FERN.) Very different from other species of Dryopteris, this one has bold, leathery pinnate fronds. Likes a well sheltered position. Semi-evergreen. 50 cms (1½ feet).
HUMATA (Davalliaceae)
tyermannii £4.75
 Semi-hardy fern from China with curious, hairy-looking rhizomes on the surface, giving rise to the common name. Fronds are tri-pinnate, giving a nice lacey appearance. Will tolerate short frosts but should be protected from long periods of frosty weather. Clumps can be split allowing for frost-free over wintering of some plants and leaving some out to take their chances. Grow in moist, well drained soil in partial shade. 45 cms (1½ feet).
MATTEUCIA (Woodsiaceae)
struthiopteris agm £ 4.75
(SHUTTLECOCK FERN.) Spectacular, large fern, eventually spreading to form several 'Shuttlecocks' of pale green bi-pinnate fronds. Grow in humus-rich, neutral to acidic soil in part or dappled shade. 1.5 metres (5 feet).
ONOCLEA (Woodsiaceae)
Only one species of this fern is known and it occurs in moist and boggy areas in East Asia and Northeastern USA.
sensibilis £ 4.75
(SENSITIVE FERN.) A very pretty, moisture-loving fern with pinnate fronds which are flushed red when young and turn a blue- green as they mature. Though not very tall, it expends its energy spreading sideways and though possibly invasive, pulling up the shallow rhizomes where they're not wanted is no chore. Sensitive to the first autumn frost, hence its common name. Unlike most ferns, the spores are borne on stiffly upright bobbly structures. Grow in dappled shade. The fronds tend to burn in hot sun. Grow in moist to boggy soil or at the edge of a pond. 45 cms (1½ feet).
OSMUNDA (Osmundaceae)
regalis 'Purpurascens' agm £ 5.00
(ROYAL FERN, FLOWERING FERN.) Deciduous fern with attractive green fronds which are tinged with purple in spring. In summer bears semi-fertile fronds with brown flowers. For moist to boggy, humus-rich soil in dappled shade. Can be grown in a shallow pond margin. Prefers acid soil. 1.5 metres (5 feet).
POLYSTICHUM (Dryopteridaceae)
These evergreen, occassionally deciduous ferns are found in a variety of habitats around the world from alpine cliffs to temperate and tropical forests. Grow in neutral to acidic, humus-rich, well drained soil in part or full shade. Tolerant of slightly drier shade than some other ferns.
aculeatum agm £ 4.75
Spreading, evergreen fern with dark green quite leathery, pinnate fronds. Native to the British Isles. 60 cms (2 feet).
munitum agm £ 4.75
(SWORD FERN.) Robust evergreen fern with shuttlecocks of lance-shaped, pinnate, leathery-green fronds. 90 cms (3 feet).
polyblepharum agm £ 4.75
(JAPANESE TASSEL FERN.) A nice evergreen fern with shuttlecocks of thick, soft, bi-pinnate, lance-shaped fronds. The tips of the fronds droop, tassel-like, as they unfurl, hence the common name. 60 cms (2 feet).
tsussimense agm £ 4.75
(KOREAN ROCK FERN, DWARF HOLLY FERN.) A neat little evergreen species, with shuttlecocks of small bi-pinnate, glossy, dark green fronds. Good for the front of a shady border or in a container. 30 cms (1 foot).
WOODWARDIA (Blechnaceae)
Woowardia_fimbriata fimbriata £5.00
A magnificent species which can reach 9 feet tall in perfect conditions but more often between 3 and 6 feet. Has attractive, broad bi-pinnate green fronds. This species is deciduous and unfortunately doesn't produce bulbils. Picture taken in February 2008.