The world of ferns is remarkably diverse. Some species resemble miniature palm trees, while others are tiny epiphytes that cling to rocks and trees.
A few evoke that classic, primeval image we associate with the age of dinosaurs, and others are so unusual you’d never guess they’re ferns at all.
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With so many unique options available, there’s truly a fern to suit every space and style. Want a fuss-free houseplant?
You’ve got plenty of possibilities. Searching for a showstopper to enliven a shady corner outdoors? The choices are almost endless.
In this guide, we’ll introduce you to the wild, wonderful world of ferns, with 35 fascinating, attractive, and adaptable options. Here are the beauties we’ll be discussing:
35 Fascinating Ferns
To describe these plants, we need to get on the same page with the terminology.
The frond refers to the aboveground foliage, broken up into the blade, which is the part with the leaves, and the stipe, which is the stalk below the leaves.
The leaves are technically known as pinnae, and some of these are made up of smaller pinnules. These attach to the axis or rachis, which is the stalk within the blade area.
Fiddleheads are the emerging fronds that typically start out curled before gradually unfurling. The sori are the reproductive spores that typically appear on the underside of the leaf.
1. Australian Tree
The Australian tree fern (Cyathea cooperi) is a fast-growing plant that reaches heights of up to 20 feet tall in five or so years. It’s often mistaken for a palm tree, but with much finer-cut leaves.
In cool areas, it grows well in full sun, but give it some shade if you live somewhere hot. It grows nicely in Zones 9 to 11 and spreads up to eight feet wide.
The cultivar ‘Brentwood’ is particularly popular as it’s exceptionally robust. It’s even sometimes simply called the robust Australian tree fern.
California growers Fred and Helen Woodley offered up this cultivar to the world in the 1970s.
Grow it next to a pond, on a shady patio, or even indoors. You can find this cultivar at Nature Hills Nursery.
2. Autumn
Autumn ferns (Dryopteris erythrosora), aka copper shield or Japanese wood, buck the green trend and change color with the seasons.
They emerge in the spring with orange, copper, or red fronds before turning bright green in summer. In the fall, the foliage shifts to brown or orange before dying back for the winter.
This species thrives in Zones 5 to 9 and grows about two feet tall and wide.
There are many cultivars and hybrids, each with its own unique coloration and size, but all have triangular pinnae with lots of curved pinnules, which give the fronds a lacy look.
‘Brilliance’ sports vibrant orange, red, and pink fronds in the spring and the color persists well into the summer before shifting to dark green.
You can find ‘Brilliance’ plants available in one- and three-gallon containers from Fast Growing Trees.
Learn more about autumn ferns here.
3. Bird’s Nest
Bird’s nest ferns (Asplenium nidus) are very popular for growing as houseplants. They’re easy to care for, don’t mind dry air, thrive in indirect light, and come in a variety of funky frond shapes.
They may be twisted, curling, or have undulating margins. They often sport dark mid veins that contrast against the bright green leaves.
This species is epiphytic but will happily grow in soil, and is suitable for cultivation outdoors in Zones 10 to 12. This eye-catching plant grows up to two feet tall and wide at maturity.
You can find plants in six-inch pots available at Perfect Plants Nursery.
Learn more about bird’s nest ferns here.
4. Boston
I need to make a disclaimer before we jump into chatting about Nephrolepis exaltata. Me and Boston ferns are mortal enemies.
I have killed so many of these I think they must have a “Wanted” poster featuring my face on the walls of Boston Fern police station.
It only seems to be me that has this problem because this species is notoriously easy to grow.
The plants are extremely popular for growing indoors, though they’ll thrive outdoors in Zones 9 to 12.
Also known as swordferns, I think of these plants as the entry-level option for gardeners who are interested in dipping a toe into the fern world.
The long, arching fronds look especially attractive draping over the side of hanging baskets. They grow to about three feet tall and wide, even indoors, making an impressive home display.
You can find plants available at Nature Hills Nursery.
Learn more about Boston ferns here.
5. Button
This adorable little evergreen hails from New Zealand and Australia, where it grows in rocky areas, cliffs, and open forests in the equivalent of Zones 9 to 11.
If you situate it near a south-facing wall or add protection in the winter, you can even enjoy it in Zone 8.
With small, leathery, button-like pinna, Pellaea rotundifolia grows to a petite 12 inches tall and wide at most, so it’s the perfect little accent in dappled shade.
It will even tolerate full sun or full shade.
This adorable little button also tolerates clay soil, though it’s best to allow the soil to just dry out between waterings. Organically-rich, well draining soil is ideal.
The gently arching fronds look beautiful in a tall container, hanging basket, or draping over a wall. Or plant several of them in a group for an adaptable ground cover.
You can find plants in four-inch pots available from BubbleBlooms via Amazon.
6. Christmas
If you live in eastern North America, you’ve probably come across Christmas ferns (Polystichum acrostichoides) in the wild, because they’re one of the most common species seen growing in woodlands.
The name comes from the fact that the fronds retain their green coloring into the holidays, after which they gradually fade, only to re-emerge with silvery fiddleheads in the spring.
Also known as evergreen wood or dagger fern, in Zones 3b to 9b, this species adds color to shady areas, whether the soil is moist or somewhat dry, and grows up to two feet tall and wide.
They are pretty adaptable but must be grown in full shade, the plants won’t tolerate sunny spots.
You can find plants available at Nature Hills Nursery.
Learn more about growing Christmas ferns here.
7. Cinnamon
For a garden specimen, it’s hard to do better than the cinnamon fern (Osmundastrum cinnamomeum syn. Osmunda cinnamomea).
Native to the eastern part of North America, where it grows in shady areas, this species thrives in rich, moist, humusy soil.
When given in the conditions it prefers, it can reach an impressive height of six feet tall.
During dry summers, the plant will die back, but don’t worry, it will come back when the moisture returns. If you irrigate regularly or live in an area with wet summers, the foliage will remain green.
The large fronds emerge from a base of cinnamon-colored fibers. The fiddleheads are also covered in reddish hair, making it look like they’ve been dusted in the spice.
If you live in Zones 3 to 9, add some spice to your garden and pick up plants from Nature Hills Nursery in quart-sized containers.
Read our guide to growing cinnamon ferns next.
8. Crocodile
How on earth could you compare a fern to a crocodile? In this case, the description is apt.
The oblong fronds of the crocodile or alligator fern (Microsorum musifolium) have a texture that strongly resembles the leathery, scaled skin of a crocodile.
This appearance is the result of segmented leaves that sport dark veins and puckered, wrinkled blades.
You’ll sometimes find this one labeled as a ‘Crocodylus’ cultivar, but that’s just marketing. They are all the same species.
The plant has a small root system and a compact habit at about two feet tall and wide, which makes it ideal as a houseplant or for small areas outdoors in Zones 9 and 10.
Add some reptilian charm to your garden and pick up plants in six-inch containers from Fast Growing Trees.
9. Dragontail
Dragontail ferns (Asplenium × ebenoides) are naturally-occurring hybrids, a cross between walking fern (A. rhizophyllum) and the ebony spleenwort (A. platyneuron).
Also known as walking spleenwort, it’s a lithophyte native to North America.
The fronds resemble the trail of a dragon with long, narrow, spiked tips.
The plant grows low to the ground, at under a foot tall in Zones 4 to 8, in a zigzagging pattern. You might suspect a clutch of dragon eggs have hatched in your garden.
Tame your own dragons by snagging plants in #1 containers at Nature Hill Nursery.
10. Dwarf Southern Wood
Filling the riverbanks, canyons, and coastal plains of the southeastern United States, dwarf southern wood fern (Pelazoneuron ovatum syn. Thelypteris ovata) thrives in Zones 7 to 10 and even in 6 with some protection.
This two-foot-tall species is semi-evergreen with finely cut fronts that grow symmetrically from the center. It needs moist soil and part shade to full sun to look its best.
The bright green leaves gradually change to bronze in the fall, providing a bit of color at the end of the growing season.
You can find this beauty available at Nature Hills Nursery.
11. Elephant Staghorn
The common staghorn, which we discuss below, has earned its status as the most popular species in the Platycerium genus, grown widely as a houseplant.
But I think the elephant staghorn (P. elephantotis) is even more impressive. Instead of having antler-like fronds, it has massive, round fronds that resemble an elephant’s ears.
It’s truly striking, whether you grow it in a large container outdoors or mounted on wood in your living room.
As natural epiphytes, these plants grow on trees in the wild, and you can even mount them on your own trees outdoors, so long as you live in Zones 10 to 12.
Each frond can grow up to 30 inches long and the plant will spread as much as you’ll let it, making for a grand display, though it will stay smaller indoors.
It likes bright light, so give it direct sun in the morning and it will be happy.
You can find plants in four-inch containers available from Wellspring Gardens via Amazon.
12. Ghost
With its upright growth, vase-like shape, and silvery gray fronds highlighting dark purplish-red midribs, this Athyrium hybrid between a lady (A. filix-femina) and a painted (A. niponicum var. pictum) has earned the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.
‘Ghost’ forms tidy clumps of three-foot tall and wide plants and will develop large colonies in part to full shade and rich soil in Zones 4 to 8.
If you look closely at the finely cut leaves, you’ll see that they have a greenish-gray hue with a silvery sheen.
The fronds will take on a more grayish-green look during the summer.
Visit Nature Hills to pick up yours, and I’d recommend planting them in clumps of three or five to really highlight the unique color.
13. Hayscented
Those who love hiking in the Appalachian Mountains will be familiar with this species.
Dennstaedtia punctilobula has arching, two-foot-long lacy green fronds that smell distinctly like summer hay ripening in the field. In the fall, they turn a beautiful golden-russet hue.
If you dread weeding day as much as going to the dentist, plant hayscented (also called hay scented) ferns.
In Zones 3 to 8 they form mats so dense that nothing else can get through, even in poor soil. Use them as erosion control, to fill depleted areas under trees, or to keep weeds away.
You can find plants available at Nature Hills Nursery in #1 containers.
14. Heart
The heart or tongue fern (Mickelopteris artifolia syn. Hemionitis arifolia) is perfectly named, with its leathery, distinctly cordate leaves.
While it demands lots of humidity, this petite epiphyte isn’t too difficult to grow, especially in a terrarium environment.
It will reach up to a foot tall and spread over a foot given the space. If you live somewhere humid and warm, you can grow it outdoors in Zones 10 and 11.
BubbleBlooms sells an adorable starter in a four-inch pot via Amazon.
Read our guide to growing heart ferns for more information.
15. Japanese Beech
Phegopteris decursive-pinnata (syn. Thelypteris decursive-pinnata) is an easy-going, slow-growing species with narrow fronds and notched pinna.
It’s one of the species that thrives in dry soil in full shade. This semi-evergreen can also tolerate moist soil in Zones 4 to 9.
Japanese beech ferns will spread around your garden without becoming invasive.
You can find one (or lots) at Nature Hills Nursery.
16. Japanese Holly
Unlike many ferns out there, Japanese holly (Cyrtomium falcatum) doesn’t have lots of pinna, with up to 10 pairs per frond.
Each one is large, leathery and pointed, with a serrated edge that gives it a distinct resemblance to a holly leaf.
The plant grows to about a foot or two tall, only requires a moderate amount of water, and grows happily in full shade.
It’s like having a petite holly plant in an area where true hollies could never grow. It’s also tough as nails, so no fussy plant coddling here.
If you live in Zones 5 to 10, visit Nature Hills Nursery to pick up plants in #1 containers.
17. Japanese Painted
Japanese painted ferns (Athyrium niponicum var. pictum) live up to their name. The gently arching, lacy fronds are like a silvery, green, purple watercolor.
This species grows slowly and spreads respectfully in moist, shady, loamy soil in Zones 3 to 8. Plants top out at about two feet tall and wide.
Thanks to its ease of care and unique coloring, it has become a go-to for acidic soil and deep shade, which the vast majority of the plants out there can’t handle.
Bring this picture-perfect option home from Fast Growing Trees.
A petite and subtly colored cultivar, ‘Apple Court’ grows to just 18 inches tall and wide. It has the classic coloring of the parent variety, but the pinnae are crested.
Hardy in Zones 5 to 8, this shade lover adds subtle silver, purple, and green in dark areas.
Head to Nature Hills Nursery to pick up plants in #1 containers.
‘Burgundy Lace’ is a standout cultivar. As the name suggests, it has lacy fronds with fine pinna. As the fronds emerge in the spring, they have a striking burgundy-purple hue.
As they age, the color shifts to silvery-green highlighted against burgundy midribs.
This one grows in Zones 5 to 8. You can find ‘Burgundy Lace’ available at Nature Hills Nursery.
‘Crested Surf’ features fronds covered in pinnae that are double-crested at the tips, with a brilliant silvery-green hue on purple midribs.
In Zones 3 to 8, it grows about two feet tall and wide and tolerates nearly full sun to full shade. Surf into Burpee to bring one home.
Every bit as elegant as the name suggests, ‘Lady in Red’ is a beautiful cultivar with finely textured, acid-green pinna held on prominent violet-red midribs.
This one is more cold-hardy than the species plant, thriving in Zones 2 to 8, and is adaptable to full shade or partial sun.
You can find ‘Lady In Red’ in #1 containers available from Nature Hills Nursery.
18. Java
Java ferns (Leptochilus pteropus syn. Microsorum pteropus) have long, rippling, linear fronds in large bunches.
The plants grow submerged or partially submerged in water. Their dramatic green color and toughness has made them a popular choice for aquariums and terrariums.
This species is native to China, Indonesia, Malaysia, India, and Thailand, and there are varieties that have fronds in slightly different shapes.
You could also grow it outdoors in a pond so long as the water stays above 65°F.
19. Kangaroo
With leaves that look suspiciously like a kangaroo foot imprint, kangaroo ferns (Zealandia pustulata) are a charming option for the home or garden in Zones 9 to 11.
This plant is gaining popularity outside of its native Australia and New Zealand because it’s so easy to care for, adapts to a range of light exposure, from shade to partial sun, and even tolerating a bit of drought.
Plants reach about three feet wide and a foot tall when mature.
Check out our guide to growing kangaroo ferns to learn more.
20. Kimberly Queen
The Australian sword, aka Kimberly Queen fern (Nephrolepis obliterata), is an elegant houseplant or creeping garden option in Zones 9 and 10 that will adapt to all kinds of conditions.
Whether you give it lots of humidity or only a little, consistent or erratic moisture, full or partial sun, it’s going to be fine.
Just keep it away from the cold areas and it will grow up to four feet wide and two feet tall.
Imagine the lacy fronds draping over a hanging basket, weeping over an urn, or filling a vacant dark spot in the yard. Want one? Me too.
Let’s head to Nature Hills and grab a live plant in a #3 container.
21. The King
If you love ostrich ferns (described below) but wish they were a bit bigger, enter ‘The King!’
This Matteuccia struthiopteris cultivar forms clumps that grow to four feet wide and up to seven feet tall, in part-shade, cool, moist areas.
In less-than-ideal conditions, like clay or wet soil, or deep shade, it will typically remain a bit smaller.
The massive fronds will unfurl in the spring and show off all summer in Zones 3 to 7, even in hot areas.
You can find ‘The King’ available at Nature Hills Nursery to bring some royalty to your landscape.
22. Lady
Lady ferns (Athyrium filix-femina) appear in the wild in most temperate forests of the Northern Hemisphere.
The name doesn’t refer to its elegant, “lady-like” fronds, it actually comes from the concealed sori, tucked away in contrast to the exposed “male” sori on other species.
This species grows to three feet tall and wide in Zones 4 to 8, with lacy, light green leaves.
It’s the classic choice if you want the true woodland fern appearance in a shady spot in your yard.
You can find plants available in #1 containers at Nature Hills Nursery.
23. Lemon Button
If you were to take a Boston fern and shrink it down, you’d have Nephrolepis cordifolia ‘Duffii.’ It’s closely related to the Boston and has a similar appearance, with small, button-like pinnae.
The fronds are medium green, and if you’re wondering where the “lemon” in the name comes from, the plant releases a citrusy fragrance when disturbed.
This one is super forgiving and easy to care for, but stays much smaller than the Boston fern at just a foot tall and wide. You can even grow it outside in Zones 8 to 10.
Find more information about lemon button ferns here.
24. Licorice
The lovely licorice fern (Polypodium glycyrrhiza) is native to western North America. It grows in the wild as a lithophyte on rocks, an epiphyte on trees, or in the ground.
In cultivation, it’s typically grown in the ground, though some gardeners mount them, myself included.
The common name comes from the slightly sweet, licorice-flavor of the roots.
The single leaves emerge from a horizontal rhizome and are present year-round in temperate rainforests, though they will die back in the heat of summer. Each leaf can grow about a foot long.
Hardy in Zones 6 to 11, this species brings some bright green cheer during the dark days of winter. You can even mount them on deciduous trees to add leafy greenery to bare tree trunks.
25. Lindheimer’s Marsh
Thelypteris ovata var. lindheimeri, a variety of the southern wood fern, is sometimes called dwarf river, Lindheimer’s maiden, or Lindheimer’s marsh fern.
This tough fern has a somewhat delicate appearance, with its narrow pinnae and distinctly divided pinnules.
It can thrive in any light exposure, from full sun to full shade, next to roadsides, or in untouched forests.
This species grows to about 30 inches tall and five feet wide in Zones 6 to 10. You can divide the plants to add more to your collection.
26. Maidenhair
Maidenhair ferns (Adiantum spp.) are popular both as houseplants and outdoors, though they tend to be challenging for indoor growers.
The dark green or black central midrib and stipe make a distinctive contrast to the pinnae. When combined with the lace-like pinnae, it’s a distinct, instantly identifiable fern. Most grow between two and three feet tall.
They grow natively in temperate regions around the world in Zones 3 to 11.
A word of advice: if you’re growing them outdoors, try to find a species that is native to your region.
They’ll grow more easily that way. If you’re growing them indoors, you can branch out a bit more in terms of species.
For the classic A. raddianum species plant, head to Nature Hills Nursery. You can choose from four-inch, six-inch, or #1-sized containers.
27. Marginal Wood
Plants in the Dryopteris genus are referred to as wood, shield, buckler, or male ferns. Most need moist, rich, well-drained soil and a shady location to mimic their native woodland environment.
Marginal wood ferns (Dryopteris marginalis) grow in Zones 3 to 8, adapt to a range of light exposure, and have lacy, deep green fronds.
The vase-shaped clumps of foliage are evergreen in warmer regions, and the two-foot-tall plants liven up shady areas. They pair well with bleeding hearts, astilbe, and hellebores.
You can find plants available at Nature Hills Nursery.
28. Macho
Macho ferns (Nephrolepis bisarrata) are a commanding option for the home or garden.
Not sure how I feel about the name, since it doesn’t do their elegant arching fronds justice. They certainly are large, growing up to four feet tall in a medium-green hue.
So long as you can provide this Florida native with tons of water, it grows happily outdoors in Zones 9 to 11, or you can keep it indoors if you’re willing to give it a large container so it can grow big and bold.
Better yet, put it in a spot on a covered patio during the summer and let it liven up your living room during the winter.
Just make sure you have someone with a strong back to help you move it back and forth.
Nature Hills Nursery carries this big, bold, beauty in #3 containers.
29. Ostrich
Native to colder climates in eastern North America, parts of Asia, and Europe, this is the species many people turn to when foraging for fiddleheads to cook.
Ostrich ferns (Matteuccia struthiopteris) grow rapidly, reaching up to six feet tall in one season and then dying back to the ground during the cold months.
In hot temperatures, the fronds might become brown and ragged looking, as they thrive in cool, moist regions in Zones 3 to 7.
In the right climate, the huge fronds resemble a green ostrich tail feather, hence the name.
You can find plants available at Nature Hills in #1 containers.
30. Rabbit’s Foot
Rabbit’s foot fern (Davallia fejeensis syn. Davallia solida var. fejeensis) hails from the islands of Fiji and Micronesia and is named for the fuzzy, long rhizomes that resemble a rabbit’s foot.
The fronds are frilly, lacy, and almost resemble the tops of carrots.
The arching fronds with long, rippling pinna look perfect in hanging baskets or tall containers, but you can also grow this species outdoors in Zones 10 to 12.
This one has gained wide popularity as a houseplant in part thanks to its compact size. Outside it can grow up to three feet tall and wide but stays about half that indoors.
The BubbleBlooms store at Amazon has plants available in four-inch containers.
Check out our guide to growing rabbit’s foot ferns here.
31. Robust Male
Male ferns vary in appearance, and Dryopteris filix-mas ‘Undulata Robusta,’ known commonly as the robust male fern, encompasses the classic.
It has gracefully arching bipinnately compound fronds with narrow pinnae and distinct pinnules. These lacy, four-foot-tall fronds are tipped with curling, golden-yellow tips.
If you live in Zones 4b to 9b, this vigorous, adaptable evergreen is available at Nature Hills in #1 containers.
Parsley or crested fern is another Dryopteris filix-mas cultivar, but don’t try to eat it!
This one has 18-inch long heavily crinkled, finely cut, ruffled fronds tightly packed into a two-foot-wide plant.
The deciduous fronds add texture to partially shady areas and will tolerate drought once established.
Use it as a ground cover in rocky areas, under trees, or on the east side of your home.
Find ‘Parsley’ plants available at Nature Hills Nursery in #1 containers.
32. Royal
Osmunda regalis, commonly called the royal fern, has large, rounded leaflets that make it look a bit like a big, bushy pea plant.
From the bright green fronds emerge brown, tassel-like fertile fronds, adding height to the six-feet-tall plants.
This species is native to eastern North America and is certainly a commanding presence if you have the right climate in Zones 3 to 9.
The plants need lots of moisture, full shade, and rich soil to reach their full height.
Visit Nature Hills Nursery to find plants in #1 containers.
33. Staghorn
The staghorn (Platycerium bifurcatum) was the fern that got me hooked on these plants. They don’t look like a traditional fern, with their distinct antler shape.
I’ve found them so much easier to care for than other common houseplant species like Bostons and maidenhairs.
These plants have circular shield fronds at the base protecting the roots, with sterile and fertile fronds emerging from the base. These can grow up to three feet long or more.
Staghorns grow as epiphytes on trees in their natural environment, though they will grow in soil, as well. You can even grow them outdoors in Zones 9 to 11.
Learn more about staghorn ferns here.
34. Tassel
Polystichum polyblepharum features fiddleheads with flexible tips that flip back themselves giving the appearance of deep green tassels, a trait that inspired this species’ common name. The tightly packed, fine pinnules give the fronds a lacy appearance.
This Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit winner is an ever-changing garden addition, with golden fiddleheads unfurling into a frond with silver stems that transition to brown with golden fuzz, on a plant that reaches up to three feet tall and wide.
Best in partial to full shade in Zones 6 to 8, this species tolerates wet or acidic soil but thrives best in slightly moist, neutral soil.
You can find plants available in #1 containers at Nature Hills Nursery.
35. Western Sword
I have a soft spot for western sword ferns (Polystichum munitum). They’re so common where I live that some gardeners consider them a weed.
If you look closely at the pinna, each one has a swelling near the base before it attaches to the axis. This swelling looks a bit like the handle on a sword.
That they are so abundant should tell you how easy they are to grow.
This species is native to western North America, where it grows in forested areas and reaches up to four feet tall.
Pick one up in a #1 container from Nature Hills.
A Fern For Everyone
I love ferns, from the unusual fronds of the staghorn to the elegant lacy foliage of a Japanese painted fern. I love the black midribs of the maidenhair and the rhizomes of the rabbit’s foot.
Every fern has its own look and place, so you can truly say that there’s something for everyone, from the aquarium enthusiast to the palm tree lover.
Which of these sounds right for you? How will you use it? Did we miss a species that you particularly love? Let us know in the comments section below!
And for more information about growing ferns in your home or landscape, add these guides to your reading list next:
