Athyrium filix-femina ‘Vernoniae Cristatum’ (Crested lady fern)

A native fern with triangular-shaped, stiff, upright fronds that can tolerate dry soil and full sun. Bracken can make very large colonies and are found in a variety of habitats ranging from dry and wet forests to meadows and bogs. They grow up to 4.5 feet tall.

‘Ghost’ is a fiendish fern with an upright habit and showy silvery fronds. Many speculate that the name of this plant is due to the fact that each new frond emerges from the “underworld” with a shimmering whitish hue, then slowly darkens to a silvery green with burgundy accents. It spreads slowly by shallow rhizomes, making a fine ground cover.

This is an elegant, deciduous fern with medium green fronds on dark brown or black stalks with thick creeping rhizomes. It provides a distinct form in a woodland setting or shaded border.

The beauty of a cool, moist woodland garden overflowing with ferns is difficult to create on the prairie, but autumn fern can tolerate our heat if given adequate shade and moisture. In spring, autumn fern’s fronds unfurl a copper red, then turn to bronze, and finally become a shiny dark green. The fronds are upright and will lend a lacy-fine texture to the garden.

This is a striking border fern whose emerging fronds are pink or copper red, especially in early spring. They mature to light green. Arching, mature fronds have a somewhat leathery texture, reach up to 2 feet in length, and have red sori and green midribs. This fern is usually deciduous.