Ferns

Soft Shield Fern

Fine-textured mid-green fronds New fronds look like curled parsley Arching, clumping habit Slow-spreading rhizomes do not travel Semi-evergreen

Marsh Fern

AKA Dryopteris thelypteris, Thelypteris thelypteroides Single pale green pinnate feathery fronds Non-clumping form; it spreads by long creeping rhizomes Makes an effective ground cover

Japanese Beech Fern

AKA Phegopteris decursive-pinnata Narrow pinnate fronds are dark green with bright green undersides Upright habit Vigorous spreader, but easy to control Deciduous

Bracken Fern

Sturdy bright green triangular fronds Found in large patches in wet or dry conditions Single fronds emerge from spreading rhizomes Tolerant of dry soils and full sun Deep rhizomes allow it to survive harsh conditions like fire or floods Poisonous to livestock Deciduous

Japanese Tassel Fern

AKA Polystichum setosum Glossy dark green fronds Hairy copper-coloured stems New fronds have a hairy tip before unfurling The unfurling tips resemble a tassel Arching, clumping habit Deciduous

Christmas Fern

Glossy leathery deep green leaves Young fiddleheads are covered in fine silver hairs Upright clumping habit Rhizomatous, but does not spread or naturalize Slow-growing Semi-evergreen

Wall Fern

Leathery deep green leaves Each leaflet has a blunt point Single fronds grow up the long rhizome Multiplies by mat-like spreading rhizomes Great for rocks and crevices and as a ground cover Evergreen

Royal Fern

Unique widely spaced oblong leaflets with a distinct central vein Pale green leaves in sunlight Deeper green in shade with reddish stems Some fronds are fertile and have brown flower-like leaflets at the tip Upright and clumping form with wiry exposed black roots A deeply-rooted fern, when established Deciduous

Cinnamon Fern

AKA Osmundastrum cinnamomeum Erect mid-green lanceolate fronds Narrow cinnamon-coloured fertile fronds appear in the spring Upright clumping form with exposed wiry black roots Deciduous

Sensitive Fern

Broad smooth pale green fronds have deeply grooved wavy margined leaflets Fronds emerge along long creeping rhizomes In the spring, emerging fronds may have a coppery tone Good ground cover Deciduous

Ostrich Fern

AKA Matteuccia pensylvanica Upright clump of big green lacy fronds Smells like freshly-mown hay when fronds are broken Short dark brown fertile fronds appear in the centre in late summer Upright-arching habit Spreads vigorously by shallow underground rhizomes Deciduous

Western Oak Fern

Delicate pale green fronds in the spring deepen in colour with age Fronds emerge from long creeping rhizomes Hairy fiddleheads rise from under the soil; not from a central crown like most ferns Fiddleheads develop into three: one for each leaf division Good ground cover Deciduous

Jurassic Gold Wood Fern

Young growth emerges golden orange Foliage matures to a mix of golden yellow and green Adds excellent spring colour to a shady garden

Wallich's Wood Fern

Thick leathery dark green lance-shaped fronds Young fronds are yellowish-green Contrasting central stem is dark reddish-brown Upright-clumping habit Spreads slowly by shallow underground rhizomes Semi-evergreen

Toothed Wood Fern

AKA Dryopteris carthusiana Narrow lance-shaped pale green fronds with finely-cut leaflets Upright-clumping habit Good for swampy low-lying shady areas Spreads slowly by shallow underground rhizomes Deciduous

Marginal Shield Fern

Fiddleheads emerge with a thick brown "fur" Leathery deep green fronds Crown consists of large rhizomes covered in fuzzy brown 'hair' Upright-clumping habit Does not spread by rhizomes Evergreen

Goldie's Fern

Light green fronds are produced in groups along the rhizomes Upright habit and long, wiry stems Spreads slowly by shallow underground rhizomes One of the tallest native ferns Deciduous

Male Fern

Lance-shaped mid-green fronds Crown is made of large rhizomes that are covered in fuzzy brown hair Upright-clumping habit Spreads slowly by shallow underground rhizomes Deciduous

Brilliance Autumn Fern

Fiddleheads emerge in colours ranging from copper to red to bronze New fronds open copper to red-orange Glossy deep green fronds throughout the summer In dry spells and in autumn, fronds have a reddish tinge Upright-clumping habit Spreads slowly by underground rhizomes Semi-evergreen

Autumn Fern

Fiddleheads emerge in colours ranging from pink to red to bronze New fronds open copper to red-orange Glossy deep green fronds throughout the summer In dry spells and in autumn, fronds may have a reddish tinge Upright-clumping habit Spreads slowly by underground rhizomes Semi-evergreen

Golden Shield Fern

AKA Dryopteris borreri 'Cristata', Dryopteris pseudomas 'Cristata' Narrow dark green fronds with crested tips Upright arching habit Tolerates sun if provided with consistent moisture Semi-evergreen

Hay Scented Fern

Delicate green fronds, 30-45 cm long Smells like freshly mown grass when crushed Turns a yellow-orange in the fall Spreads vigorously by rhizomes and may become aggressive Deciduous

Holly Fern

AKA Phanerophlebia fortunei Stiff arching green fronds Broad sickle-shaped leaflets resemble a holly branch Erect clumping habit Evergreen

Deer Fern

Leathery narrow deep green fronds Two kinds of fronds are produced: Sterile fronds are narrow and glossy green Fertile fronds are held stiffly erect with a narrow form Central stems on mature branches are dark reddish-brown Spreads slowly by rhizomes Can tolerate full sun in wet conditions Evergreen

Giant Japanese Painted Fern

Massive arching clump Long silvery fronds Fronds vary in shades of green blended with burgundy and gray Purple stems

Ghost Fern

Fronds open a soft grayish-green They have a silvery overlay of silver hues and dark maroon midribs Upright habit Spreads by shallow rhizomes

Burgundy Lace Japanese Painted Fern

Fronds emerge from the ground in the spring a deep burgundy-purple colour Burgundy fronds have silver streaking maturing to grayish-green Fronds will retain their purple midribs and silver streaking with maturity. Clumping habit with a slight weeping effect Colonies form by shallow spreading rhizomes Great plant for brightening a shady spot

Japanese Painted Fern

Fronds with light green margins feature white centres Clumping habit with a slight weeping effect Colonies form by shallow spreading rhizomes Great plant for brightening a shady spot

Japanese Painted Fern

Arching triangular silver fronds with violet-red veining Twisted pinnules give the fronds a ruffled look Clumping habit with a slight weeping effect Colonies form by shallow spreading rhizomes Great plant for brightening a shady spot

Japanese Painted Fern

AKA Athyrium goeringianum 'Pictum' Fronds emerge from the ground in the spring a deep burgundy-purple colour Fronds age silvery-green with deep purple stems Clumping habit with a slight weeping effect Colonies form by shallow spreading rhizomes Great plant for brightening a shady spot

Japanese Painted Fern

Doubly branched and crested frond tips Fronds emerge from the ground in spring Fronds age silvery-green with deep purple stems

Lady Fern

Bright green fronds Upright-clumping habit Long-lived and easy to grow Spreads by shallow rhizomes

Lady in Red Fern

AKA Athyrium angustum forma rubellum 'Lady in Red' Vibrant green fronds with a deep red central stem Upright-clumping habit Spreads slowly by shallow rhizomes

Hart's Tongue Fern

AKA Phyllitis scolopendrium, Scolopendrium vulgare Low, upward-growing clumps of glossy narrow strap-like leathery leaves Edges are often wavy On leaf undersides, spores darken with age in a herring-bone format Evergreen fronds remain lush throughout the winter Black, wiry, shallow roots

Northern Maidenhair Fern

Delicate bright green fronds with black-purple stems Spreads by shallow rhizomes to form a dense ground cover Slower-growing fern, taking 2-3 years to reach mature size Foliage can be an interesting texture in arrangements