I accept that you don't host a national collection, but it sounds as if you have quite a few! How are the acquisitions mentioned in that post doing (Dryopteris coreanomontana, Doodia media, Dryopteris sieboldii )?
My Asplenium trichomanes were planted in a pile of rocks / rough containing wall, and they have been hanging on for a few years but not really flourishing. What sort of soil do you have? A little earlier in this thread I listed some that I like and are doing well in my (enriched) clayey/chalky soil: Blechnum spicant, Dryopteris atrata, D.
wallichiana, D. erythrosora, Cyrtomium falcatum, against a backdrop of assorted polystichums and polypodium. A patch of Adiantum venustum is doing well, but I am struggling with Arachnoides aristata 'Variegata'.
The worst has been Coniogramme emeienssis. It died in a week on me. I probably didn't take sufficient care watering, but it gave up the ghost almost immediately.
Hi all fern lovers! May I join this discussion and refer to this discussion of mine without being taxed with wanting to "raise the number of  visits" to that discussion and my own garden site?
My fern wall (oops, done it again) currently holds a mere 25 different species... but I am visiting an "open day cum plant fair" at a nursery this week-end where my favourite ferns nursery will be holding a stall, so am expecting a significant increase of that number.
My favourite ferns so far:
Arachniodes simplicior | holly fern Arachniodes standishii | upside-down fern Athyrium filix-femina ‘Frizelliae’ | tatting fern Athyrium niponicum ‘Metallicum’ | painted lady fern Cyrtomium falcatum | Japanese holly fern (planted in the soil, not on the wall, huge fronds) Cyrtomium fortunei var. clivicola | Dryopteris erythrosora var. prolifica | prolific copper shield fern...
The more the merrier @Papi Jo. That's a great thread, the wall looks superb. I will need to spend some time considering all the different species! I went back to my notes and realised I'm actually up to about 22 species, more than I thought. A fern specialist nursery stall would lead to severe stress for me, I'd return home with a large number of ferns (following which the stress of finding planting spaces). From your list here the Arachniodes species are new to me and look wonderful. I love Cyrtomium falcatum. Mine is only a year old, so not yet majestic, but it has taken well. Perhaps my next fern-related post I might title 'Frond of ferns' as a general fern-related thread, or perhaps 'Fond of ferns' is more subtle.
The acquisitions you mention are all doing well ; Dryopteris sieboldii in particular .
I too struggle with Arachniodes aristata 'Variegata' ; it survives but never flourishes .
My soil is neutral/slightly acid free-draining loam ; very nice but dries out a little bit too quickly during dry spells .
The house was apparently built in the 1930's on what used to be centuries old orchards .
Maybe decades of fallen apples contibuted to the slight acidity .
Ferns are so diverse , as are trees in the genus Pinus which are understood to still be evolving in Mexico . Unfortunately tender in our climes , the shining beacon of the family must be Pinus montezumae ; beautiful .
PS Once Cyrtomium falcatum gains stature , it's a real treat to behold .
Posts
My Asplenium trichomanes were planted in a pile of rocks / rough containing wall, and they have been hanging on for a few years but not really flourishing. What sort of soil do you have? A little earlier in this thread I listed some that I like and are doing well in my (enriched) clayey/chalky soil: Blechnum spicant, Dryopteris atrata, D. wallichiana, D. erythrosora, Cyrtomium falcatum, against a backdrop of assorted polystichums and polypodium. A patch of Adiantum venustum is doing well, but I am struggling with Arachnoides aristata 'Variegata'.
Arachniodes standishii | upside-down fern
Athyrium filix-femina ‘Frizelliae’ | tatting fern
Athyrium niponicum ‘Metallicum’ | painted lady fern
Cyrtomium falcatum | Japanese holly fern (planted in the soil, not on the wall, huge fronds)
Cyrtomium fortunei var. clivicola |
Dryopteris erythrosora var. prolifica | prolific copper shield fern...