One I have that no-one has yet mentioned is Onoclea sensibilis, the sensitive fern. This grows very happily in my wet & boggy 'Dell' and I always look forward to seeing the new fronds, as they start off bright pink, then gradually change to green. A bit different to most of my other ferns, its fronds are more rounded, less 'frondy', but still very attractive. It spreads a bit, but not too fast, and in an organised way by rhizomes, that extends the clump, rather than popping up anywhere at random.
I have native Dryopteris all over the place and try to save them when I can. There are 2 forms, one that I has what I call 'untidy' fronds which is D. felix mas and the other which has tidier, more evenly shaped fronds and growth and I still can't make my mind up on this one.
I'm reading this with interest @Buttercupdays. About two or three years after I moved to my current garden, an amazing shuttlecock fern began to flourish. It wasn't one I had put there, or really where I wanted it. But it was lovely. It has spread by rhizomes to fill a reasonable patch of the back bed. It is very tidy and neat in shape, but in hot spells in midsummer it tends to die down completely and re-emerge in spring. (It seems undeterred by this).
As my house was built in Victorian times, I'm wondering whether this could possibly be a cultivar that somehow survived--if it is a self-sown plant, I'm still pretty puzzled as there are none anywhere in the vicinity (that I know of). If you have the time to post pics of your two forms I'd be very interested.
This thread is getting more and more interesting for fern lovers!
@silver surfer, love your pics of Onoclea sensibilis. I've never seen the "seeds" that you posted in your 3rd pic. I'm posting (again) a pic of emerging fronds in April that I posted on the Garden Gallery.
@Cambridgerose12 The spores are so tiny and light that they can be carried a long way on the wind. My garden suits them as it has plenty of moist/wet/boggy areas that are reasonably umdisturbed and often shady. My 'tidy' fern has a neater shutttlecodk than the other one and is a slightly paler green and I'm dithering between D. felix femina or D. affinis as possible IDs. It might be something else entirely
If yours is a large shuttlecock, it could be Matteucia struthiopteris, the ostrich fern. I haven't got one yet, though it's on my wishlist for the Dell. The Victorians loved ferns and spores can be long lived, so it might have been around the neighbourhood for a while. Apparently it can also be a bit of a nuisance spreader, so have a look at some pics and see if you think it is that, just so you can be ready for it!.
It will be no problem for me in the Dell. It looks the most unpromising spot, very shady and very wet, with a stream running through it. Everything I plant in it goes mad though, even if it is well behaved elsewhere in the garden:Astilbe, Darmera, flag iris, Persicarias Lysichiton, and I have to get my wellies on and get very muddy digging out the things I don't want or that are in the wrong place, just to keep some room for the primulas and other pretties that can be as thuggish as they like
It does look a bit delirious I'll have to get that one - I've got a lovely characterful oak that I planted as a sapling nigh on 40 years ago. It's got moss and violets under it, but should obviously have its own fern too!
First time, more or less due to lockdown, that I'm closely following the development of the ferns. This is Polystichum neolobatum (Asian Sabre Fern) I'm fairly sure, picture just taken. It's amazingly far ahead of nearly all other ferns here, with the exception of Asplenium trichomanes and Adiantum venustum that are also showing good new growth. Other ferns are very much still waiting for warmer times.
@micearguers lovely thread, thanks. @Silver surfer that Gymnocarpium is simply marvellous. I have a south-facing very hot and sunny garden, whereas I would ideally like a shady one, filled with ferns, Hostas, Pieris etc. There are only a few small spots for ferns, plus pots.
I so far have stuck to Polypodium and Polystichum, but should consider being more adventurous. Here's a Polystichum (can't remember which one) by my north-facing front door from last year, looking very sorry for itself now as I gave it a hair-cut, but lots of new fronds developing, hopefully not damaged by the freezing temperatures.
The Polystichum neolobatum above had its delicate fronds damaged by the frosts. It was a bit too optimistic. On the other hand, this weekend I noticed that Asplenium scolopendrium is ready to unroll, but patiently waiting. Its croziers in the middle of the old damaged foliage look somewhat menacing.
Posts
1 - 5 are Onoclea sensibilis copper leaved.
1 and 2 are allegedly Gymnocarpium dryopteris plumosum.
3. Gymnocarpium dryopteris ...common name Oak fern.
Not a clue how you tell them apart.
Pics from old garden where it was deliriously happy in damp soil under a big oak tree.
Spreading by runners.
I so far have stuck to Polypodium and Polystichum, but should consider being more adventurous. Here's a Polystichum (can't remember which one) by my north-facing front door from last year, looking very sorry for itself now as I gave it a hair-cut, but lots of new fronds developing, hopefully not damaged by the freezing temperatures.
Polystichum neolobatum ....more pics.