They may look delicate, but durable, easy-to-grow ferns are a boon to Midwest shade gardens.

Shade Garden Ferns

Originally published: July/August 2007

Adding ferns to a shade garden makes a gardener look like an artist. Their feathery fronds come in a wide array of shapes (rounded to pointed), sizes (a few inches to several feet tall) and colors (many shades of green, silver, white and brown). All add texture to low-light locations. Ed Lyon, director of Rotary Gardens in Janesville, Wisconsin, says ferns look great massed or planted as part of a combination.

"You can make a wonderful shade garden with nothing but three kinds of plants: Hakone grass (Hakonechloa), hostas and ferns," Ed says.

The fern and moss garden at Rotary Gardens includes more than 200 varieties among three types of ferns. Asian natives, such as the Japanese painted fern, and European varieties, such as the European lady fern, need misting during hot, dry summers. North American natives are easiest to grow.

Good choices for Midwest gardeners include fine-textured lady ferns (Athyrium) and vase-shape wood ferns (Dryopteris). Another must-have is the northern maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum), which has rounded-edge, green foliage growing in a circle atop black, shiny stems.They're all easy to grow, as long as you follow Ed's three tips: Enrich the soil with organic matter, make sure the soil has good drainage and mulch ferns in fall for winter protection.

For more ideas, visit Rotary Gardens, 1455 Palmer Drive, Janesville, Wisconsin. The 18 themed gardens are 30 miles south of Madison (608/752-3885; www.rotarygardens.org).

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