Fond of Fronds

I grow mainly Dryopteris and Polystichum varieties in the ground which are easy. The only fern which has objected to my dry soil so far is Blechnum spicant so that might be fussy in a pot. No slug damage to any of my ferns either. You’ve got a nice collection @BB3! Fernatix specialises in ferns, their website gives good information on reliable varieties and care requirements.

 

Thank you @Plantminded . The one you mentioned is familiar but I've no idea whether I have it or have seen it in a GC.
I keep all the labels but it's still really difficult to identify the plants. More than once, I have found that I've mistakenly rebought something I could easily have divided . Most provoking!
The sensible thing to do would be to make a list but I'm an idle gardener.

 

@micearguers I've had to resort to digging some up and putting them back in pots but that was when we had that extremely hot year and they were a long way from the house!
I might divide some and try again. Belt and braces.

 

The ones I struggled a lot with and lost are Arachniodes aristata, Rumohra aristata and Coniogramme emeiensis. Agree with @Plantminded about Dryopteris and Polystichum. Additionally Cyrtomium, Asplenium, Athyrium, Polypodium and Blechnum all do quite well on my soil (humus-enriched chalky clay). Blechnum prefers more acidic soil I think, so I have that in a very compost-rich spot. Blechum spicant is a favourite for colour and texture, I have it both in soil and in a pot. Same for Polystichum tsus-simense. Doodia media I lost in the soil but does great in a pot. Anyway ... @BB3 your question is really just about dry-ing up resistance. You seem to keep your pots in shaded areas? I think the only ferns to avoid are those that like wet feet - I don't really know that much about the exotic ones except the three mentioned above. It helps if a fern has developed a good root system.

 

Thanks @micearguers . That's a useful bit of information that I'll be able to remember!

 

So glad I dumped the hostas. All of my ferns are doing really well. Can't wait for the deciduous plants behind to drop their leaves so that I can see them properly. No slug hunts. No chewed leaves. So many greens and textures,they quietly get on with life - apart from their pushy dryopteris relatives who are more than welcome too.

 

A good move @BB3!

 

I agree, @BB3. My collection of ferns has grown steadily over the yrs. Lovely plants and so easy. A bit of shade, a bit of water, collect the withered fronds in autumn, and done!

 

Still glad I dumped the hostas. I'm eyeing up the containers now. They'll do the ferns well next year

 

I daren't step foot in the GC right now as I know they will have lots of tempting little starter ferns just calling out to be taken home with me.

 

It has to be done @ViewAhead

 

It's been pretty dry in Cambridgeshire for the past six weeks or so, with the exception of one day of rain. That day did help in perking up the fronds from a rather forlorn state.

 

@Loofah well spotted, that's Fatsia polycarpa. Slow growing for me, but it was knocked by a severe cold in the winter after I'd planted it - that might explain it. I think it's considered slightly less hardy than japonica, but again as it survived the knock I'm optimistic.

 

I like the look of that polycarpa. Probably mild enough down here in a sheltered spot.