Fern zombies awaken in the garden

Close up image of Coniogramme gracillis unfurling
Coniogramme gracillis unfurling

Like sci-fi zombies re-awakening, ferns in the garden are spring back to life.  Nothing says spring quite like the presence of new fern fronds emerging…known as croziers.  Below are several different fern images we’ve taken as they emerged this spring.  The first is the bamboo fern, coniogramme.

Close up image of Lepisorus tosaensis unfurling
Lepisorus tosaensis unfurling

Lepisorus or ribbon ferns, with their long narrow fronds are quite unique.

Matteuccia The King with new and old fronds
Matteuccia The King with new and old fronds

Matteucia or ostrich fern emerges alongside last years’ spore bearing fronds providing an interesting contrast.

Onoclea sensibilis Supersize with summer and winter fronds.
Onoclea sensibilis Supersize with summer and winter fronds.
Osmunda cinnamomea emerging
Osmunda cinnamomea emerging
Osmunda cinnamomea unfurling
Osmunda cinnamomea unfurling

Onoclea, aka sensitive fern does the same, holding both the new fronds alongside the old fertile fronds from the prior season..  Ferns like this are called dimorphic, which means they have two different frond types…fertile and non-fertile.  Most ferns pack light and have both on the same frond. 

Osmunda regalis unfurling
Osmunda regalis unfurling

The two images above are our native Osmunda cinnamomea or Cinnamon fern.  The hairy croziers are just amazing.  Recent taxonomy has actually kicked this out of the genus Osmunda and created a new genus, Osmundastrum.   Hmmm.

Polystichum acrostichoides unfurling
Polystichum acrostichoides unfurling

Here is its cousin, Osmunda regalis or royal fern…another great US native that’s also native in Europe and Asia.

Polystichum makinoi unfurling
Polystichum makinoi unfurling
Polystichum makinoi unfurling
Polystichum makinoi unfurling

This is the lovely native Polystichum acrostichoides or Christmas fern…also wonderfully hairy as it emerges.

Polystichum tagawanum unfurling
Polystichum tagawanum unfurling

Here are two images of the Asian tassel fern, Polystichum makinoi that we took a week apart as the croziers unfurled.

Pteris vittata unfurling
Pteris vittata unfurling

The lovely Asian, brown-haired  Polystichum tagawanum.

Thelypteris lindheimeri crozier
Thelypteris lindheimeri crozier

Our winter hardy form of the table fern, Pteris vittata

Woodsia subcordata emerging
Woodsia subcordata emerging

A single picture perfect crozier of the Texas native, Thelypteris lindheimeri

And finally, the dwarf Woodsia subcordata.  How can you fail to find joy in this amazing spring rebirth?  We hope you’ll visit our fern offerings and choose some of these deer resistant gems for your own garden.

5 thoughts on “Fern zombies awaken in the garden”

  1. Barbara Holdridge

    Pure joy! Such a life force emanates from these spring croziers (lovely word) that I still can’t stop smiling. Thank you for punctuating a rainy spring day. with gladness.

  2. What fern would be best for a very dry shade situation? On the north side of a large limbed-up maple tree, close to its base. Gets a little direct morning sun in winter, pretty strong shade in summer. I have added lots of compost to the pretty dry duff, and water when I can, but it is still dry there, and will have root competition. I need some fine texture to go with some hellebores, apidistra, & rohdea. Would much prefer something evergreen. Any suggestions?

    1. Dryopteris erythrosora (Autumn Fern), Polystichum acrostichoides (Christmas Fern), any Cyrtomium (Holly Fern), any Coniogramme (Bamboo fern), and Polystichum polyblepharum (Tassel Fern) are all excellent choices for these conditions. All are evergreen.

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