Many of them are cultivated for use in yards and as houseplants.
Most are perennial, with some evergreen and others deciduous.
Unlike most plants, they don’t propagate by seed.
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Instead, they reproduce via small dots on the underside of the fronds called spores.
Here are several fantastic ferns worthy of your consideration.
Best suited to cool summer climates, this isn’t a fern for southern regions.
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Just remember to keep their soil consistently moist.
It’s a good fern forbeginner houseplantowners if it’s possible for you to get the conditions right.
And with the lemony scent of the fronds, it will leave your room smelling wonderfully fresh.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
The long-lasting fronds look fantastic in acut flower display.
Because it’s low-growing, gardeners sometimes use it as a ground cover in shady spots.
It’s fast-growing, adaptable, hardy, and resistant to pests and diseases.
The Spruce / Cori Sears
It’s no wonder this is a popular, award-winning fern.
With a short, spreading habit, it’s a great fit as foreground plants in a shady spot.
This lush,popular plantis a perfect choice to add a tropical vibe to your space.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Just be aware it can be finicky about light and humidity levels.
Like true ferns, it likes partial shade.
It is toxic to animals.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
It also produces little white flowers that turn into striking red berries in the fall.
Foxtail fern is mildly toxic to humans and animals.
The leaves are typically light green with a white stripe down the long center.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
They can handle more sunlight than some ferns and are popular additions topartial shade garden designs.
Maidenhair Fern
The maidenhair fern(Adiantum raddianum) sports dinkier leaves than most fern species.
They’re pretty slow growing, though, so be patient with them.
The Spruce / Kara Riley
Bird’s Nest Fern
Bird’s nest fern(Asplenium nidus)is a humidity-loving epiphytic species.
The broad green fronds look better the more they mature providing they get plenty of humidity.
Often hung on wooden wall displays, just see to it you regularly remove these moisture-loving plants for watering.
The Spruce / Leticia Almeida
The large, green, lance-shaped fronds look great in any wet spot in your garden.
The apple green fronds add a lovely splash of color.
It remains evergreen in regions that experience mild winters, providing year-round color.
The Spruce / Cielito Vivas
It’s an ideal fast-growing ground cover for woodland gardens.
Unlike many ferns, this species isn’t a fan of wet conditions.
It just needs to be kept out of full sun and in consistently moist soil.
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It can grow in full sun in regions that experience cool summer temperatures, providing it receives consistent moisture.
Although they prefer consistently moist conditions, these easy-to-grow plants are more drought-tolerant than many fern species.
Look no further than the Hart’s tongue fern(Asplenium scolopendrium).
The Spruce / Kara Riley
The fronds are straight, undivided, and arching.
The dense, linear growth and bright green tone give this fern a unique appearance.
Low-maintenance and pest-free, it’s no wonder this is an award winner.
The Spruce / Anastasiia Tretiak
The glossy green heart-shaped foliage makes the heart fern (Hemionitis arifolia)especially noteworthy.
The evergreen species can handle drought better than most fern species, although it thrives in humid environments.
More Info on Ferns
Explore more on ferns and other plants that thrive as houseplants.
The Spruce / Anastasiia Tretiak
Is Foxtail Fern Poisonous to Humans?Missouri Poison Center.
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