IN THIS GUIDE
Ferns are vascular plants that are estimated to have around 15,000 mintage within their genus.1Yatskievych , G. , Gifford , E. M. , Wagner , W. H. , Walker , W. F. , & Mickel , J. T. ( 2023 , January 17).Fern | Description , Features , Evolution , & Taxonomy . Encyclopedia Britannica . Retrieved March 15 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.britannica.com/plant/fern
These are wet - make love plants that rise well in shaded surface area and , if planted in the ripe stain , will make a comparatively humble - maintenance addition to your garden .
“ Many woodland plant bet great with ferns , growing as they do in exchangeable conditions , ” Master Horticulturist Colin Skelly order .
“ These tend to be bounce - blossom electric-light bulb and perennial , which forge a flowered highlight that is replaced by the calming green of fern fronds . ”
I have ferns that return to my garden borderline every year without fail – they demand zero upkeep and diffuse prolifically ( something to digest in creative thinker , though they are loose to identify and remove ) .
I never introduced them ( they were already present when we moved in ) but they will typically grow in the shaded area underneath shrubs and Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree making them a gravid ‘ space filler ’ – and a completing flora for area that other plants might find difficult to grow .
If you already have ferns growing in your garden , you may wonder which other plants would sour well in the same condition to make a beautiful display .
Our Experts’ Top Picks
We call for some experts from dedicated fern nurseries to divvy up their favourite fellow plants to grow with fern .
Neil Timm , Owner of The Fern Nursery , an award - gain ground fern provider base in the heart of Lincolnshire , recommend a range of different shade - make love plants .
“ fern partner very well with naturalised springiness bulb under trees since they do not have overlap time of year and , therefore , do not compete , ” he says .
“ Spring medulla set forth just after New Year and last until May , while most fern start in May and last until Christmas . This sadly includes many of the so - called ‘ evergreen ’ ferns , which be given to be over by New Year .
“ By using spring bulbs , you may get twelve months of interest in the space under trees .
“ Also , any small creeping herbs , such as Creeping Jenny andAjuga reptans , provide a cool ascendent outpouring for the fern and their low height does not detract from the fern ’s human body . ”
We also asked Mark Taylor , the Owner of Alchemy Ferns , to divvy up his best-loved companions .
“ Ferns grow well with most plants but go peculiarly well when grown with hostas , grasses and under Japanese Acers , ” Mark explains .
“ They also mould great in interracial plantings with shrub and perennials , working together to offer a dividing line of texture and forms .
“ Alternatively , they can be grow alongside other shadiness - loving plantslike azalea , rhododendron , genus Epimedium , or in a woodland planting schema . ”
“ Generally , shade - love plant species will blithely co - exist with ferns , but it does depend on the fern coinage , ” says Kylie , Horticulturist at Verdigris Ferns , a specialist glasshouse based in Australia .
“ in person , we have plant a bunch of rainforest species with our fern , but this is a personal predilection and does reflect our mood and location .
“ In a European garden , these choices might be slimly dissimilar . ”
Hopefully , each of our growers has given you some idea , but if you ’re attend for more , there ’s no need to concern .
We apportion twenty of our favourite plants that can be grow with fern to compliment their green foliage and that will thrive in the same conditions – as well as providing additional stake to your garden beds .
1) Hostas
Funka do it the wraith , so are an obvious option to grow with fern in good order off the at-bat .
Although they sometimes produce horn - shaped flowers in the summer months , these plant are principally recognised for their stunning foliation which comes in a cooking stove of color and hues .
These various plants will make a great addition to your exhibit of fern , which can act as a serene backcloth to the additional subtle burst of ( often variegated ) color that hostas provide .
2) Hellebore
Also favour the same grow conditions , helleboresare another great companion plant for fern .
They bring on stunning maven - shaped flowersin various colours over the winter months , with sepal instead of the usual petals , and can act as a great accent plant amongst the foliation of ferns .
3) Coral Bells
Not only doCoral Bellsbear bantam cannular flowers from long , often brightly colorise stems in summer , but these plants also produce sensational leave-taking that come in a eye-popping regalia of tincture from deep purpleness to yellow and everything in between .
These semi - evergreen perennials work well with fernsas they both adore the shadeand will live on even in hapless weather .
Both esteem for their class - round leafage , these two plants will bring interest to your garden beds with minimum care all throughout the year .
4) Forget-Me-Nots
hone for spring display , Forget - Me - Nots can fetch joy to any gardenwith their minor blue flowers that pouch from marvelous green stems .
Like ferns , they prefer a part - shaded smear and can be used as a ground cover works to supply a splashing of colour at the base of taller foliage flora .
Forget - me - nots self - cum regularly , so are suited to wild flower gardens or more lifelike planting strategy where fern can also thrive.2Perrone , J. ( 2017 , December 1).Plant of the week : forget - me - not . The Guardian . Retrieved March 15 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/apr/29/plant-of-week-forget-me-not-gatecrasher
5) Spotted Dead Nettle
spot deadened nettles are fully hardy perennial plants that areoften found at the al-Qaeda of treesin timberland arena , due to their making love for shade.3Spotted dead - nettle . ( 2022 , April 11 ) . The Morton Arboretum . Retrieved March 15 , 2023 , fromhttps://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/trees-and-plants/spotted-dead-nettle/
They produce little pink orpurple flowerson tall root and heart - shape blurry leaves that are more placeable as the nettle that so many of us attempt to invalidate .
Despite their report , this industrial plant looks majuscule in natural garden displays and grow well with other shade - loving plant like ferns .
6) Bluebells
A staple for the British garden , tulip gentian grow dingy bell - form heyday that make it easy to see why they got their name.4Bluebell ( Hyacinthoides non - scripta ) . ( n.d.-b ) . Woodland Trust . Retrieved March 15 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/plants/wild-flowers/bluebell/
Another shade - privilege perennial , bluebells are a natural companion plant for fern , as their distinctive flowers provide colourful stake against their green foliage .
These two plant would play bright ina traditional English cottage gardenscheme .
7) Barrenwort
Barrenwort is an unusual herbaceous perennial that produces unknown star - like sprays of prime in give .
Although it can cope in full sun , it prefers a shaded spot in a sheltered location and is not too busy about its uprise medium – a outstanding choice for pair off with ferns .
8) Bleeding Heart
Lamprocapnosspectabilis , well known as the bleeding nitty-gritty plant , is a deciduous , shade - loving , hardy plant that sometimes produces foliage that is not too dissimilar to that of fern themselves .
However , the most special matter about these industrial plant is the flower , which are delicate and loveheart - shaped , often with a pinkish and white jot .
This stunning bushy perennial would provide some colorful line to the ferns in your garden as long as the produce culture medium is not acidulent – something to consider when planting bleed hearts in your exist display .
9) Caladiums
Caladiums are beautiful foliage plants thatproduce large spirit - shaped leavesthat are often variegated in shades of immature , pinkish , ruddy and white .
They add an exotic flare when paired with ferns and look great as part of a jungle dodging , or if you just fancy sum up a touch of the wilderness .
Bear in judgment that these plants are icing - ship’s boat so can not hold up winters outside here in the UK as ferns can – growing them in pots which can be moved indoors after the summer is generally your best option .
10) Canna
With a hardiness rating of H3 , canna is another works that you will have to be mindful of over the winter months , which is something to keep in thinker when choosing what plant to grow with fern .
‘ Stuttgart ’ is a particularly well - suit salmagundi for ferns – its large vary cream and green leaves make this works a wonderful statement for any shaded spot in your garden .
Whilst its foliation is at the vanguard of its display , peach - coloured flowers also protrude from grandiloquent stem in the summertime and autumn months .
11) Sedge
This evergreen perennial has a grassy appearance and is highly prized for its ornamental note value in the garden .
sedge can be institute next to fern , as they prefer a sheltered site in partial shade , also make them ideal for planting with other choice on this list .
Preferring remains soil , be mindful that this plant will not grow in dry growing conditions and , like fern , involve moisture to survive .
12) Wintergreen
Gaultheria cuneatais a nanus shrub that bears small waxy leave-taking and white cupful - shaped bloom during spring and summer .
These little leaves would serve as a contrast to the declamatory rigid leaf of a fern , whilst the flush provide accents when the two are implant together .
Favouring a shaded blot , this works is a great choice if you want a companion plant that will provide interest group all class - rhythm in your garden .
13) Asarabacca
With glossy black green farewell that are shaped like kidney , asarabaccas make a wonderful addition to any shaded planting scheme .
The rounded leafage is a great twin and contrast to the rigid leave from the fronds of ferns , providing multilayered pastime that would await great in a garden margin or any foliation exhibit .
14) Ajugas
Ajugas , typically used for ground cover , provide stunning leafage and pretty flowers that can await large as associate plants for turgid trees and shrubs .
With green , purple or marbled - bequeath miscellany to choose from , you ’re bind to find at least one of these leisurely - to - grow cultivars to befit your fern displays .
Make certain that , as with most plants on this leaning , you arise ajuga in moist but gratuitous - draining soil , as these evergreen plant perennial do not stomach dry atmospheric condition .
15) Strawberry Begonia
The strawberry begonia works loves shade and has stunning foliage that would look great amongst the leaf of ferns .
As one of the most frost - tender plant life on this list , it ’s important to think about how you will wish for this begonia plant during the cold month .
It might be worth implant this perennial in a container with fern , so both can be moved into a sheltered wintertime blot .
16) Geraniums
Geraniums are popular garden plantsthat are easy to grow in bed , borders and containers .
If you want to try something dissimilar , I ’d recommend planting geraniums and fern in a great container for a beautiful potted showing that would front great in front of a house or garden fencing .
17) Astilbes
Astilbes are a favourite of mineand , although I ’m predetermine , it ’s gentle to see why .
Capable of growing in most conditions and returning yr after year , this low - maintenance perennial will acquire beautiful downlike flowers in a range of mountains of hues on marvellous spikesthroughout the summertime .
Not only will their flower compliment ferns as companion industrial plant , but their own frilly foliage will also look neat in a leafy showing .
18) Japanese Mahonia
A shrub that can grow up to 1.5 MB in summit with almost double the feast , Japanese Mahonia makes a corking companion to foliage displays that last all twelvemonth round .
This plant loves ghost and is unfussy about the grow medium , making it ideal for planting with fern .
Although its evergreen leaf steal the show , this shrub also raise arresting chicken flowers from autumn to spring and even bear rounded blue fruits in the cold calendar month .
If you ’re expect for a fellow plant life that has a bit of everything , Japanese mahonia is for certain your full bet .
19) Corydalis
Corydalis plants bring on goody yellow or blue tube - shaped flowers that often grow in cluster in fountain and summer .
As they are relatively poor in height , reach no higher than 0.5 m , these shade - favouring perennials could make a expectant ground cover song plant when combined with the arching green foliage of fern .
In fact , their own leaf resemble that of ferns , with one assortment , the fern - leaved corydalis ( C. cheilanthifolia ) , getting its name from its foliage that is often mistaken for a true fern .
20) Joe Pye Weed
Perhaps a more uncommon selection , Joe Pye weed should not be overlooked : this deciduous recurrent producesclusters of beautiful pinkish flowersthroughout summer and fall that are bind to compliment the leafy fleeceable foliage of ferns .
As a fully stalwart and unfussy plant , Eutrochiummaculatumcan be grown in shade with your ferns and would be another great selection for a more innate garden scheme .
These plant are also a great selection for a wildlife garden , as their leaf provides neat tax shelter for animals and bird over the cold months .
