Good morning! I have a fern question and instead of creating a new post I thought I'd try here.
I want to add some ferns to a new border which is slightly raised to the height of a scaffold board but with access to our clay soil below. It will be filled with a 60% topsoil and 40% manure mix.
The border gets morning sun until around 12pm and then is in the shadow of our fence for the rest of the day. The border is approx 1m deep by 5m long and ready to plant up I already have an Amelanchier Obelisk and some Euonymus Japonica. I'll also throw in some foxgloves and astrantia.
I'd like to include some large, structural ferns to the mix for a woodland vibe. Evergreen ideally as so much of the rest of my garden dies back over the winter. I'd probably plant 3-4 large ferns (only 1-2 varieties) - I'm particularly keen on those with shuttlecock type form.
Can anyone recommend varieties and online retailers? Thanks in advance.
"If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need"
This is a photo from last year . There is nothing to see above soil level today apart from some dead stalks. Can someone identify it? Was it not a hardy variety?
Hello @WildFlower_UK, I have a couple of ferns in my garden that might be suitable, Polystichum setiferum and P. munitum. They are both evergreen with large sword like fronds. Easy to grow and reliable. I bought mine a few years ago from Crocus, before their prices became rather ambitious! Plants for Shade also sell ferns, I've not used them but other forum members have recommended them before.
@B3 it looks like Arachniodes aristata to me. I struggle with that as well; I only checked now, but the RHS describes it as frost tender. So it will come out quite late generally and be checked by late frost and cold spells and make easier foil for molluscs (which I suspect often happens to mine). It may just be patiently waiting for warmer days.
Arachniodes simplicior 'Variegata' is an evergreen fern with short, creeping rhizomes. Genus name comes from the Greek word arachnemeaning a spider in reference to the spidery aspect of the clusters of spore capsules.
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I just popped out to look at some of mine…
I want to add some ferns to a new border which is slightly raised to the height of a scaffold board but with access to our clay soil below. It will be filled with a 60% topsoil and 40% manure mix.
The border gets morning sun until around 12pm and then is in the shadow of our fence for the rest of the day. The border is approx 1m deep by 5m long and ready to plant up I already have an Amelanchier Obelisk and some Euonymus Japonica. I'll also throw in some foxgloves and astrantia.
I'd like to include some large, structural ferns to the mix for a woodland vibe. Evergreen ideally as so much of the rest of my garden dies back over the winter. I'd probably plant 3-4 large ferns (only 1-2 varieties) - I'm particularly keen on those with shuttlecock type form.
Can anyone recommend varieties and online retailers? Thanks in advance.
This is a photo from last year . There is nothing to see above soil level today apart from some dead stalks. Can someone identify it? Was it not a hardy variety?
I have a Cristata “King of ferns” in a similar situation.
I wonder if the name has something to do with spiders🤔