did you know?

Ferns were among the first plants to inhabit the earth. Their origins can be traced back 350 million years -- more than twice as long as the first flowering plants. Their method of reproduction is very primitive: They reproduce not by seed but by microscopic spores. In Victorian England, ferns were collected, and their image was used frequently to embellish pottery, furniture, and other objects.

general maintenance:

To maintain a tidy appearance, remove browned foliage throughout the season, and remove all foliage in late fall or early spring before new growth begins.

pests/diseases:

Scale insects may occur.

controls:

For scale, handpick, and spray with horticultural oil or remove diseased leaves.

how to sow/plant:

Plant in spring or fall. Start with new plants, or divide the rhizomes (fleshy roots) in early spring. Choose a shady site with humus-rich, fertile, uniformly moist soil, and amend with well-rotted manure or compost. Set plants at the same depth they were in their pots, spacing them 3 feet apart. Water upon planting, and mulch to conserve moisture.

water and fertilize:

Monitor moisture soil all season. Fronds (leaves) will not wilt but brown and die when they become dry. If plants are not dry for an extended period of time, new leaves should emerge. Fertilize biweekly with a balanced fertilizer, following package directions.

garden hint:

Don't plant ferns near shallow-rooted trees and shrubs; they don't compete well for food and nutrients. Ferns perform best in moist, rich soil.

features:

• Deer Resistant
• Native
• Shade Tolerant
• Wet Tolerant

garden uses:

• Containers
• Ground Cover
• Naturalizing

other uses:

• Culinary/Edible (in spring, use tender, young fiddleheads)

combine with:

plantain lily coral bells wild ginger lungwort and big-root geranium