Unfurling Fern Fronds

There is so much to enjoy in the garden in spring, it seems to change on an almost daily basis.  Spring bulbs such as crocus, daffodils and tulips, along with blossom on the trees, blue Bugle and zingy yellow Euphorbia. 

However, a quieter event is happening alongside all this colour – the unfurling of fern fronds.  Ferns aren’t ‘shouty’ plants, but instead exude a graceful cool around the garden.  At this time of year they are emerging from their winter dormancy by uncurling their new fronds in the most beautiful way.  The new fronds (called croziers) look very like the scroll on the neck of a violin. 

They look great as a woodland edge planting intermingled with Foxgloves, Epimedium and Tellima.  Or equally good as part of a ‘jungle’ style mix alongside large leaved plants such as Fatsia japonica or Hosta.  They add texture and calm green lushness.

I have some common Polypody (Polypodium vulgare) in barely any soil on an extremely well-drained green roof on top of my log store. It grows amongst Sedum and I didn’t water it at all during the summer droughts over the last couple of years (it survived). 

Ferns can be used in containers - beside my front door I have a large evergreen fern (Polystichum polyblepharum) which looks great year round, it gets almost no direct sun.

Fern have so many uses in the garden.  They all like varying degrees of shade, something which every garden has some of!  Choose the right fern and it can even take dry shade, such as underneath evergreen trees, although some definitely like moist soil so take a little care in selecting the one suitable for your spot in the garden.