Sword fern is an especially great pick because its arching, deep green fronds add fantastic texture to a low-maintenance garden. No kidding, it needs plenty of water. Sword fern (Polystichum munitum), statuesque evergreen fern to 5 ft, new foliage in March. Evergreen ferns: Year-round. Mostly found in dry open areas. IS THERE a more useful plant than evergreen ferns? The largest and most statuesque of our native ferns, the leathery, arching fronds growing 4-6 feet in length! Handy Brochures. Evergreen ferns do not always need to be cut to the ground; this is a matter or preference generally. The shield fern, also known as wood fern or buckler fern, depending on what part of the in where it is found. The native wild form of this easy and very useful evergreen fern. Happy in damp shade but also in dry shade once established. Small and tufted, these ferns that nestle in crevices in and among rocks grow only about 4-6" in height. No wonder these most familiar of ferns don’t get the respect they deserve. Photo credit: Gary A. Monroe. Steffen considers Dyce’s holly fern (Polystichum x dycei) to be one of the very best recent introductions. True, the majority are shade and moisture lovers and are thought of as a backbone of the shade garden and rightly so. Maintenance: Dead fronds should be left attached to the plant through the winter and then removed, if desired, in February, just prior to the appearance of new growth. Family: Polypodiaceae. Steffen is busy writing a guide to our ferns, but he took time to enthuse about a few he wouldn’t garden without. They are shiny and dark.. Each flower is composed of a deeply five-parted urn shaped and are pink to white. For a more expert opinion, I turned to Richie Steffen of the Elisabeth C. Miller Garden, which is a trove of fern species. Interestingly the upright, fertile fronds are deciduous; the basal clump of sterile fronds, evergreen. Chilean hard fern (Parablechnum cordatum syn. “I love a fern that has more letters in its name than the alphabet,” says Steffen of the plumose soft shield fern (Polystichum setiferum Plumosomultilobum Group). Sword Fern, Polystichum munitum. Attractive relatives such as the soft shield fern (Polystichum setiferum) and Korean rock fern (Polystichum tsus-simense) do equally well in the Pacific Northwest. Netflix series stuns a Seattle chess enthusiast, Are bubbles safe? It is a beautiful, almost prehistoric looking plant, commanding a real space in the garden. Southern Shield Fern even tolerates full sun throughout the range of U.S. zones (check each plant's Description tab for details). It’s amazing how much time you can spend outdoors and still know so little about nature. greens can be used for tablescapes, vase arrangements, diy wreaths, etc. Perhaps the most elegant of the native woodland ferns, with wire-thin dark brown to purplish-black stems rising 12-18” tall, topped with a flattened “palm” of delicate fronds. This fern works brilliantly with other ferns, hostas and bergenias. Phone: 503.231.5050 The majestic Sword Fern is one of first images that come to mind when someone says “Northwest native plant.” Anyone who has stepped out on one of our forest trails or visited a wooded park will immediately recognize it. Light shade (51) Shade (26) Sun (17) + Show more filters Special conditions. And although this tough native is also incredibly garden worthy, it is by no means the only one suitable for the garden! Lacy maidenhair ferns and silvery painted ferns are summer delicacies. So moist is best but not essential for this lovely fern. There are a few native ferns that make their homes in rocky, typically "un-fern-like" surroundings, mostly in drier, sub-alpine climate. Shade or sun or something in-between, it is a statuesque, commanding presence. How realistic is ‘The Queen’s Gambit’? They are effective in mass plantings, as borders, and as accent plants.Our ferns thrive in partialn and full shade. I know a fern when I see one, and that’s about it. a bundle of mixed autumn colored foliage + PNW winter greens such as magnolia, olive, juniper, cedar, noble, nandina, etc. MIXED EVERGREEN WREATHS, SWAGS AND GARLANDS. Very adaptable garden specimen, to drier shade than expected, since in the wild it can be found in the spray zone of waterfalls on mossy rock outcroppings. Other Polystichum sp., native to the Pacific Northwest: Narrowleaf Sword Fern, P. imbricans is similar to Western Sword Fern and once was classified as a variety of P. munitum. Most ferns -- the deer fern and the western sword fern are exceptions -- require a steady supply of moisture and good drainage. Evergreen or deciduous, they are virtually disease and pest-free, and can provide a range of textures and heights and help create an elegant shade garden collage. Ferns Division Pteridophyta Ferns date back to the beginning of the Carboniferous period (360 million years ago) and are relatively abundant in the fossil record. Over time single plants … Sun to shade. Search for "evergreen ferns" By type. The plants featured are highlighted favorites, but they do not represent ALL of the plants we carry. The sterile fronds (pictured above) are 8 to 20″ long, evergreen, and prostrate, while the fountain-like fertile fronds, which emerge in the spring, are 16 to … This group of evergreen ferns includes our native Sword Fern, Polystichum munitum. Slugs are munching on the tiny iris that are just starting to bloom, and camellia blossoms brown out with every freeze. The Pacific Northwest provides a great growing environment for ferns. In the wild, it grows on trees, particularly Sitka spruces, but it does just fine growing in the ground. This evergreen is beautiful shades of green leaves. Its scientific name is Dryopteris and is most commonly found in the temperate regions of North America, such as the wet, wooded, shady forests of the Pacific Northwest, parts … They grow about 2½ feet tall and tolerate full shade in summer. Columbines and impatiens will add color pops to the shade garden as well. Though not common, these natives are worth the effort if you are fond of ferns! When the seasons start to change, evergreen ferns can be your constant that will continue to look good throughout fall and winter. Granstrom Evergreens is a wholesale and retail supplier of fresh Christmas evergreen wreaths, swags and garlands from the Pacific Northwest. Ferns come in an amazing range of texture, color, sizes and and shapes. Western sword fern (Polystichum munitum) is a large evergreen fern that can be found in most woodland areas. Digging ferns in the wild, either for whole plants or to make divisions of clumps, must be done sparingly and with good judgment. Looks best planted in groups or drifts in the woodland or rhodie garden. Typically a shady woodland plant, it can live happily in nearly full sun if given enough water. On my strolls over the years I have noticed that there are two ferns that remain evergreen in our woods during the winter. As small as a few inches tall to a towering six feet, there is a native fern for all occasions and settings! Red Flowering Currant, Ribes Sanguieum. The fronds are also brittle, so place it in an area that is rarely disturbed. They are among the most beautiful of ferns. They dislike hot summers thus are most at home along coastal regions of the Pacific northwest or Atlantic Canada. Classes | Ostrich ferns are easily grown in average, medium to wet soil in part shade to full shade. Notes: Transplants well, easy to establish. Morphology: This evergreen groundcover fern grows to a height of 4’ with an eventual spread of 7’. Protection from our wetter weather is a must. It’s so easy to think that nothing is living or growing under the snow, but all you need is a January thaw and a stroll in the woods to see that there are plants that have not given in to the onslaught of cold and snow. Ferns. Lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina), deciduous fern to 5 ft, prefers moist areas in part shade, finely divided light green foliage. It is a … Ferns are a shade-garden staple. Evergreen fern. Yet the plant is tough, fully evergreen and drought tolerant. A lacy, expansive fern from 3-6 feet, it is a beautiful and graceful addition to the garden, but place it in a mostly shady, moist to wet area. Ferns may be evergreen or deciduous and once established, they are easy to care for and provide a … It has shiny green fronds that arch up into a big vase shape nearly 3 feet tall. Leather polypody (Polypodlum scouleri) is a compact, evergreen version of the licorice fern. A Guide to Ferns of the Pacific Northwest. Evergreen ferns can stay as they are and deciduous ferns such as Dryopteris are considered self-cleaning, which means the fronds fall off and disintegrate when they are spent. The Pacific NW is fabulous fern country, and almost all our ferns do well in varying amounts shade, with several species tolerating a considerable amount of drought. And they have sex lives so varied and complex that entire books have been written about how they reproduce. East (49) North (45) South (19) West (49) How much sun. The Pacific Northwest is fern country. Lacy maidenhair ferns and silvery painted ferns are summer delicacies. Give it water and space and you will have a real specimen fern. But ferns spread their fronds luxuriantly toward the wintry sky, holding their architectural shape through freezes and snowfall. But, if these needs can be met, the Lady Fern is one of the most lovely to grace the garden. Deciduous ferns: March - October. It was bred in a lab at Leeds University in the United Kingdom from parents both vigorous and super hardy. Licorice Fern is the soft, green fern that you see in the woods on logs and stumps and on mossy tree trunks (especially big leaf maples), that looks kind-of-like-but-not-quite-like a small version of Sword Fern. Part-shade with moist yet well-drained limey soil seems to suit them best. He calls this Victorian beauty “a must-have for every Northwest garden.” Its fronds are fluffy and delicate-looking, covered in fine silver hairs. Phone: 503.788.9000 This and other quotations are from Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast, by Pojar & MacKinnon.] They’re the stalwarts of the winter garden. If ferns didn’t grow wild in our woods, and if their botanical names weren’t so impenetrable, they’d be as popular as hostas, as treasured as peonies. Deciduous and a must-have for the shade garden. This South American native does just as well in the northern hemisphere. Strap shaped, long undivided fronds giving the plant it's common name Hart's (deer) Tongue fern. Provides winter protection for birds. Vigorous when its needs are met, languishes in dry conditions. Chilean hard fern. My favorite is autumn fern (Dryopteris erythrosora) for its russet coloring in springtime and because it grows only about 2 feet tall. Shade Plant Recommendations for the Pacific Northwest. Grows better on alkaline to neutral soils. It should be possible to subdivide plants by carefully severing a piece of the underground stem and firming the remainder back into its spot. We frequently use Polystichum … But since our ferns have such diverse habitat preferences, it is best that they be dealt with one at a time. Propagation: Division of clumps or of rhizome is easier is the easiest and quickest way to get mature pants. Growing Conditions: Fertile, rich, well-drained soil; deep or partial shade But since our ferns have such diverse habitat preferences, it is best that they be dealt with one at a time. With our wet climate, ferns are relatively easy to grow and maintain, making them an ideal plant for the Pacific Northwest. 9000 SE Division, Portland, OR 97266. Its two types of fronds are very distinct. Common Trees, Shrubs and Ferns of PNW Forests Trees (woody, typical height > 2m) Conifers • Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) • western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) • western redcedar (Thuja plicata) Angiosperms • bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum) • vine maple (Acer circinatum) • red alder (Alnus rubra) • black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa) The Pacific Northwest is home to about forty species of ferns. by dandurston October 28, 2016 June 12, 2020 Leave a Comment on A Guide to Ferns of the Pacific Northwest. We offer a great selection of Northwest Natives from spring through fall. Can adapt to many different soil conditions, moist to dry. Pacific Northwest Native Plant Profile: Deer Fern (Blechnum spicant) Posted on December 5, 2016 by eileen stark Since winter is well on its way, this seems like a good time to give a nod to a distinctive evergreen fern that brings elegance and function to moist, west coast coniferous forests, as well as shady gardens. Photo: Jason Jorgensen. Where I grew up in Lake Forest Park, north of Seattle, sword ferns grew everywhere, along the sides of creeks, in the woods and fields. Our evergreen products are made of noble fir, cedar and juniper. It forms an arching mound of “erect leaves forming a crown from a stout, woody, scaly rhizome.” [Rhizome is the botanical name for an underground stem. They’re the unusual plant that is easy for beginners to grow yet fancied by the most experienced gardeners. And it's evergreen, so you can enjoy its rich color all year long. They can be found in nearly every area of our region, and so there are many appropriate for nearly every garden condition, even sunny rock gardens! Now, when the garden is still leafless, it’s all about evergreen ferns, and plenty of them thrive here in the Northwest. Sturdy evergreen fronds that eventually form a clump 3-4’ tall and wide, forming sturdy, upright majestic clumps of fronds. Evergreen ferns do best if the older fronds are trimmed off in late winter or early spring, just before the new fronds emerge. Description As one of the most prevalent Northwest native plants, Sword Fern is best known for its bright green arching fronds that grace the shaded forest floor from the Yukon all the way south into southern California. Facts: Native Ferns. This dainty specimen has fronds that grow only 10-12 inches long, thriving in moist, mossy settings, especially happy on mossy tree trunks, stumps and branches. Evergreen ferns add year-round dramatic, sweeping textures and contrasting colors to your landscape. It is smaller (20-60cm) with overlapping, somewhat infolded leaflets and only scarcely scaly stipes (petioles). Deer fern is native to moist coniferous forests in the US Pacific Northwest and Europe. Part sun/full shade. Most can take more sun than their woodland relations, and all require excellent drainage. 2’-3’. They are, however, diminutive and charming and can make ideal rock garden or container plants. Others, like Asplenium trichomanes: Spleenwort and Cryptogramma crispa: Parsley Fern have tiny fronds that are by contrast quite leathery in texture. Rebeeca Sams and Buell Steelman of the design-build firm Mosaic Gardens (located in the Pacific Northwest) favor compact plants with a meadowy texture and colors that blend well with others in order to create natural-looking gardens that don’t overwhelm smaller suburban lots. Coronavirus daily news updates, Dec. 1: What to know today about COVID-19 in the Seattle area, Washington state and the world, WA Notify system goes live with COVID exposure notifications for iPhone and Android users in Washington state. They look best if the fronds are cut back in late winter to reveal the intricate fiddle heads emerging, but it not absolutely necessary that you do this. Some varieties, like Cheilanthes gracillima: Lace Fern and Aspidotis densa: Indian Dream Fern have soft, lacy fronds. Home | Evergreen ferns for the Pacific Northwest: The Oregonian These evergreen ferns have stiff, leathery fronds that are narrow and lance-shaped with overlapping pinnae. references Pacific Northwest Native Wildlife Gardening: To Cut or Not to Cut-Keeping Your Sword Fern Healthy Sword fern is a tough and adaptable evergreen, cold hardy to USDA Zone 3. Thanks to a cool, moist climate, magnificent stands of sword fern (Polystichum munitum) grow in great sweeps on forest floors and form delicate tufts of green lace on rocky cliffs.In cities, wind-driven fern spores land and take root on bits of debris caught along downspouts, making feathery little clumps that march up the sides of old brick buildings. This isn’t a fern you’ll find growing underfoot next time you’re out hiking. Portland Nursery on Stark Perhaps the most distinctive of our native woodlanders, with its basal clump of spreading fronds and an upward growing clump of fertile fronds, the new growth with reddish mid ribs contrasting with the light green blades of the fronds. Check out her blog at www.valeaston.com. It does better in shady situations where its fronds will not burn. In the Pacific Northwest they look their best in rich alluvial floodplains west of the Cascades where the soil stays evenly moist all during the growing season. It spreads slowly into a sturdy ground cover and looks great paired with chartreuse or blue-toned foliages. Ht. If the plant has been severely damaged, then you will certainly want to cut it entirely back. This evergreen groundcover will blanket the ground in rich, dark green leaves year-round, providing a solid contrast to the starkness of the winter season. Blechnum chilense, Zones 7–9) is a rock-star evergreen fern that makes a huge impact in the garden. 5050 SE Stark, Portland, OR 97215, Portland Nursery on Division As thousands of athletes get coronavirus tests, nurses wonder: What about us? Plants (63) Product (3) Facing. Characteristics: Woodland ferns in the Pacific Northwest are both easily recognized as shade-tolerant, forest-dwelling species. Plant Name: Polystichum munitum. ). Blechnum spicant: Deer Fern This evergreen fern, with its deeply-dissected fronds and persisting dark/bright green color, … Our natives Polystichum munitum (Sword Fern) and Dryopteris filix–mas (Male Fern) do great in woodland settings. Characteristics: Woodland ferns in the Pacific Northwest are both easily recognized as shade-tolerant, forest-dwelling species. Sign up today! As with other perennials, the best time to plant is during the spring and fall when the rain is plentiful. Your subscription gives you an instant 25% off your entire pottery purchase! In a sunny rock garden, the miniature ferns that can be found in those conditions can make a sweet, unexpected focal point. For a more complete list, see our Northwest Native Plant List. Giant Chain Fern, Woodwardia fimbriata, is a Pacific Northwest native that gets 4-5′ tall.It has a soft-looking texture and an airy habit that’s lovely next to evergreen shrubs.While these look great massed, the mature size of 5 feet makes it an excellent focal point in a … Asian saber ferns (Polystichum neolobatum) are as dramatic as their common name sounds, with shiny, narrow, rigid fronds that pop right back up after a snowstorm. We tend to overlook our native ferns, despite the fact that Western sword ferns, particularly, are revered in England for their resilience and strong, architectural lines. Each frond is pinnately compound, and lance-shaped. Valerie Easton is a Seattle freelance writer. Locations | Now, when the garden is still leafless, it’s all about evergreen ferns, and plenty of them thrive here in the Northwest. Beautiful red flowers in early spring. ... Evergreen ferns add texture, height, and dark green tones to the garden, 365 days a year. We regularly pulled them up to throw them, pointed ends first, toward our playmates. ... One of the largest species of ferns in the pacific northwest. Yearly Events | Providing enough light mixed with rich organic soil and moisture produces a beautiful hardy fern. Spores spread around garden for new plants. How to spot COVID-19 risks when dining outdoors this winter. The longer you garden, the more you appreciate how ferns carry the garden through winter, then in spring and summer form the perfect textural green backdrop for bulbs and perennials. Sword ferns (Polystichum munitum) are considered the king of ferns for their stately looks. Chilean hard ferns shield the base of this tree, growing several feet in the air.