Foliage Gardens - Catalog, Fernsby Sue Olsen |
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Fern Terminology “In dappled shade - a Fountain of green lace - Lavish as any flower.” - Haiku for defining a fern. Note - The climate zone
numbers listed for species worldwide are based on the data in "Flora of North America" Vol. 2
ARACHNIODES DAVALLIAEFORMIS: Glossy triangles of dark green somewhat spiny evergreen fronds rival the sheen of A. aristata, but unlike the latter produce bushes of foliage. New to the trade from Japan, this has tested successfully in southern California and should add interest to gardens in Zones 7-8. …hopefully 6 with care. 10.00 ARACHNIODES STANDISHII: This evergreen standout has feathery tripinnate 2-3’ fronds that offer an excellent contrasting element to heavier textured shade loving shrubs or perennials. Or feature it as a striking focal point. Hardy and popular but rarely available.. Zones 5-9. 12.00 ARGYROCHOSMA NIVEA: Small pale green, white dusted pinnae trim wispy, wiry black 12” stalks. A xeric from 13,000’ in northern Chile, it needs excellent drainage and protection from winter wet. Zone? Limit 1. 9.00 ASTROLEPIS SINUATA: (Syn. Cheilanthes sinuata): Wavy cloak fern is living proof that not all ferns are shady woodlanders. This pinnate xeric is “cloaked” with white curly hairs on the fronds’ undersides and is a showstopper in our garden. It needs bright light, gritty, good draining soil and protection from winter wet. I grow it under the eaves facing south with filtered summer sunlight. Evergreen 15”. Zone 8-10. 8.00 ATHYRIUM OTOPHORUM: Auriculate lady fern: This is a colorful delight of Japanese origin with light green bipinnate fronds and a dark wine hue spreading onto the foliage from the rachis. New growth is the color of lime sherbet and displays well when surrounded with dark greens. Eastern customers (Zone 6) recommend spring planting. Semi-evergreen in mild winters here, usually deciduous. 2'. Zone 5?9. 8.00 BLECHNUM GAYANUM: This is a dense, dimorphic little bushlet of a fern from the mountains of southern Chile and Argentina. Crowded bunches of evergreen sterile fronds wander about and mature at six to eight inches in the shadow of slightly taller fertile fronds. It prefers bright filtered light and dampish acid soil. Give it a prominent site whether in the rock garden, container or woodland foreground. Zones 7-9. New to the US trade. 10.00 BLECHNUM WATTSII: This Australian 2-3’ silky evergreen likes the comfort of a consistently moist loamy habitat where it will happily colonize. Unfortunately it prefers Zones 9-10 but survives in 8 with care. 8.00 CHEILANTHES GRISEA: A tufted xeric from shaded rocky sites high in the Himalayan mountains, the fronds on this 12” evergreen are equal parts stipe and blade. A white waxy coating on the frond’s undersides handsomely accents the blackish structure. It needs fast draining gritty soil. Zones 6? 7-9. New to the US trade. Limit 1. 10.00 CHEILANTHES SIEBERI: Unlike many cheilanthes, this 15” evergreen from “Down Under” has glabrous forest green foliage and prefers acid soil. Like most cheilanthes it needs bright light and good drainage. Zones 8-10. 8.00 CHEILANTHES WRIGHTII: From the American southwest, this fast growing, evergreen 8” xeric with bluish foliage is easier than most. Good drainage and protection from winter wet will help. Zones 8-10. 8.00 CYRTOMIUM FORTUNEI: The hardiest of the cyrtomiums, this standby has matte greenish/silver foliage and tolerates deep shade. Arrived unexpectedly in a Polystichum culture! Zones 5-10 indoors or out, evergreen. 5.00 CYRTOMIUM FORTUNEI VAR. INTERMEDIUM: Beautiful matte, yellow green, once pinnate holly-like foliar highlight in the company of dark lacy foliage. Reputed to be the hardiest of the holly ferns. Evergreen 12”+ horizontal fronds. Also easy indoors. Zones 5-10. A best seller. 8.00 DRYOPTERIS ERYTHROSORA ‘PROLIFICA’: is an open small version of the species with the typical copper color of the type on linear pinnae. The fronds (especially when warm or stressed) may produce propagable bulbils. Well behaved evergreen. 18-24”. Zone 5?-8. 9.00 DRYOPTERIS EXPANSA VAR. WILLEANA: I consider Dryopteris expansa nice but rather ordinary. With its contrasting chartreuse foliage and dark architecture, I consider this cultivar, Scandinavia’s only endemic, a showstopper. Deciduous to 2’. Zones 3-9. New to the U.S. 10.00 DRYOPTERIS LEPIDOPODA: Sunset fern: This handsome coral, orange and gold Himalayan resembles D. wallichiana in outline but is enhanced with warmer sunset hues in new growth. It looks superb with yellow flowered primulas and the feathery flowers and spring foliage of epimediums. A favorite, sturdy bipinnate evergreen. 2'. Zone 6?9. 8.00 DRYOPTERIS MONTICOLA: A D. goldiana twin and considered by some to be a subspecies thereof, this pastel green 2-3’ deciduous fern comes to us from well-chilled terrain in Siberia, Japan and China. Zones 3-8. 9.00 DRYOPTERIS NEOROSTHORNII: The botanical classification of this species is in flux. Its beauty is not. It is a 2-3’ evergreen somewhat resembling D. wallichiana with its golden green colored unfurling foliage and heavy coating of lustrous blackish scales. A Himalayan, it is suitable for Zones 6-9 and possibly 5. Limit 1 please. 8.00 DRYOPTERIS POLYLEPIS: Unfurling fronds coated with black scales bring excitement to the spring garden and delight throughout the year. Drought tolerant 2’ evergreen. Zones 6-8. 9.00 DRYOPTERIS X COMPLEXA: (D. affinis × D. filix-mas) ‘ROBUST’: Bold 3-4’ vigorous evergreen bipinnate fronds give this fern massive substance. Once established it is remarkably drought tolerant. Great for screening. A best seller. Golden scales on new growth. Zone 4-9. 8.00 DRYOPTERIS YIGONGENSIS: Allied in Asia with D. wallichiana and its relatives, this is an 18-24” version suitable as a more modest but colorful statement. Warm hued new growth. Evergreen. Zone (6)-8. 8.00 COLLECTIONS PELLAEA OVATA: A blue jewel for the dryland garden, the frond’s rachis zigzags its way to 2’ or more. Needs excellent drainage and individualized care. Pot culture is great. Try it in part to full sun. Zones 8-10. Limit 1. 10.00 POLYSTICHUM ACULEATUM ‘CRISTATUM’: Crested hard shield fern. Upright arches of fronds tipped with broad fans of foliage. Prefers neutral to basic soil. New to US. Evergreen. 2-3’. Zones 4-8. 9.00 POLYSTICHUM NEOLOBATUM: A Foliage Garden introduction of many years ago, which exceeds all standards for exceptional ornamental value and hardiness. This leathery, bristly bipinnate evergreen thrives in Zone 6-9 Glistening fronds are enclosed in papery scales. It is one of only a few ferns not flattened by wet snow 2'. Protect from sun. 8.00 POLYSTICHUM POLYBLEPHARUM: The tassel fern, which is a luminous choice for moist shade, is an early emerging shiny evergreen to 2’. New growth is bristled with silver scales. It is popular in Zones 6-9. 9.00 POLYSTICHUM TSUS-SIMENSE: A dark hued evergreen equally at home in the garden, greenhouse or flower arrangement, this is a selected eye-catching form with narrower than usual pinnae. 15-18”. Zones 6-10. 8.00 STEGNOGRAMMA POZOI is related to Thelypteris although rare and therefore more in demand. Deciduous and spreading with a height of 2’ and width to be determined. Easy in moist shade. Zones (6-7?) 8-10 5.00 WOODSIA POLYSTICHOIDES: Holly fern woodsia looks like a soft dwarf creeping Polystichum. Despite the appearance, it is tough and thrives in well drained sunny crevices. One of the first to emerge in the spring (February here). Deciduous. 6-12”. Zones 5-8. 8.00 WOODSIA SUBCORDATA: Heart shaped wee pinnae trim the soft fronds on this 6-12” dwarf. Pt. sun. Deciduous. Zones 5-8. 8.00 WOODWARDIA UNIGEMMATA: Giant cascades of brilliant red emerging foliage makes this an incredibly beautiful focal point with a tropical feel. Brilliant green mature fronds stretch to 6’ or more in an effort to plant the bulbil at the frond’s tip. Evergreen. Zones 8-10 10.00 LIMITED NUMBERS OF OTHER FERNS ARE AVAILABLE........DO INQUIRE! |
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