Evergreen ferns are an exceptional addition to any garden, offering year-round greenery that enhances visual interest and texture—even during the dormant seasons. Their elegant fronds bring a natural grace to the landscape, making them especially valuable when other plants retreat for the winter.
Ideal for shade gardens, ferns flourish in low-light conditions, making them a top choice for those tricky spots beneath trees or along north- and east-facing walls. In particular, east-facing gardens benefit from their ability to thrive in gentle morning light, where they add lush, calming greenery without requiring direct sun.
What makes ferns even more fascinating is their ancient lineage. These prehistoric plants have been around for over 350 million years—long before the first dinosaurs walked the earth. They were among the first plants to colonize land and played a crucial role in shaping Earth’s early atmosphere by producing oxygen, paving the way for other life forms.
Remarkably, ferns have remained largely unchanged over the millennia, a testament to their resilience and adaptability. Today, gardeners can choose from several hardy evergreen varieties that not only survive but thrive in cooler, shadier climates. Many feature soft, light green fronds that lend a refreshing vibrancy to shaded corners year-round.
Whether you’re looking to fill a shady spot or add texture to a woodland-inspired garden, evergreen ferns are a timeless, low-maintenance choice that brings both history and beauty to your outdoor space.
Why Are Ferns Considered Evergreen
Ferns are considered evergreen because they retain their green leaves, called fronds, throughout the year. Unlike deciduous plants, which drop their leaves in the fall to survive the cold winter, many types of ferns keep their leaves, called fronds, all year long. This means that even during the winter months, these ferns stay green and do not lose their foliage. Because of this, they are called evergreen plants. Staying green all year allows ferns to keep making food through photosynthesis whenever there is enough light and warmth, even in colder seasons.
Here’s a simple breakdown:
- Evergreen means the plant stays green year-round.
- Many ferns don’t lose their fronds seasonally.
- This means they can photosynthesize and stay alive and active all year.
Can you cut back evergreen ferns?
One of the important questions in gardening is when to cut back your plants each year. Some ferns die back completely during the winter. Others are evergreen, meaning they keep their leaves all year. However, even evergreen ferns can look messy because of old, damaged fronds from the previous year. In spring, you can clean them up by trimming away the old fronds to help the plant look neat and healthy again.
Why and How to Prune Your Evergreen Fern
Evergreen ferns are a beautiful addition to any garden or indoor space, offering year-round greenery and texture. However, to keep them looking their best, a little maintenance goes a long way—especially when it comes to pruning.
Different Ferns, Different Needs
Some ferns, like the Leatherleaf fern (Rumohra adiantiformis), are known for their vigorous growth and may require regular pruning to keep them under control. Without routine trimming, these fast growers can easily become overgrown and untidy.
On the other hand, slower-growing species like the Holly fern (Cyrtomium falcatum) are much easier to manage and typically don’t need as much attention. That said, even low-maintenance ferns can benefit from occasional pruning to stay healthy and attractive.
When and Why to Prune
If your fern is starting to look overgrown, out of shape, or a bit messy with old fronds from the previous year, it’s probably time for a trim. Pruning offers several benefits:
- Removes dead or damaged fronds, which can improve the overall appearance and health of the plant.
- Controls the size and shape, especially in small or crowded spaces where the fern may interfere with nearby plants.
- Encourages new growth. Evergreen ferns produce fresh fronds from the base, and pruning helps stimulate this process. This is particularly useful for older ferns that have become leggy or sparse in the center.
How to Prune Your Fern Properly
Pruning your fern the right way is important to avoid damaging the plant:
- Use clean, sharp pruning shears to make neat cuts. Dull or dirty tools can cause tears and increase the risk of disease.
- Avoid pulling or ripping fronds, as this can injure the base and open the plant to infections.
- Trim in spring or early summer, when the plant is actively growing. This gives it the best chance to bounce back quickly and produce fresh, healthy fronds.
Recommended Tools for the Job
Having the right tools makes all the difference. Here are my favorite pruning shears for trimming ferns with precision and ease:
When to Plant Evergreen Ferns
The best time to plant evergreen ferns is in spring or early autumn. These seasons offer the most favorable conditions for the ferns to establish strong roots before facing extreme weather like summer heat or winter frost.
Why Spring or Early Autumn?
- Spring: The soil is warming up, and the weather is mild. Ferns planted in spring have the entire growing season ahead to settle in and grow well.
- Early Autumn: The heat of summer has passed, and the soil is still warm enough to support root growth. There’s also usually more rainfall, which helps with moisture.
Avoid Planting in Harsh Conditions
- Too hot (mid-summer): High temperatures and dry soil can stress young ferns and make it harder for them to establish.
- Too cold (winter): Frozen or wet soil can damage roots and slow growth, especially if the plant hasn’t had time to settle in.
Summary
Planting in Fall
If you live in a region with mild winters, fall is an excellent time to plant evergreen ferns. During this time:
- The soil is still warm, which encourages healthy root development.
- Ferns can establish themselves before winter, making them stronger for the next growing season.
- They have time to adjust to the soil and location before facing the stress of summer heat.
Planting in Spring
In areas with cold or harsh winters, it’s better to plant evergreen ferns in the spring. This way:
- Ferns have the entire growing season to develop strong roots.
- They benefit from spring rains and gradually warming temperatures.
- This gives them a healthy head start before summer, reducing the risk of transplant shock or stress.
Top 10 Evergreen Ferns
Jump To: | evergreen ferns for Sun|evergreen ferns for shade|large evergreen ferns|small evergreen ferns|hardy evergreen ferns|
Large evergreen trees, vines, ferns, and mosses are mostly found in tropical and temperate rainforests. These places have high moisture, mild temperatures, and lots of shade, which help these plants grow. In tropical rainforests near the equator, tall evergreen trees form a thick canopy, while vines climb up them, and ferns and mosses grow on the damp forest floor. Temperate rainforests, like those in the Pacific Northwest or New Zealand, are cooler but still very wet, allowing evergreen trees, mosses, and ferns to thrive in the shaded, moist environment.
Evergreen ferns for Sun:
The Cretan Brake Fern is a graceful fern known for its narrow green fronds, often with creamy-white or silvery stripes. It grows in a clumping form and reaches about 1–2 feet tall.
It can handle bright, indirect light and even partial sun, making it more sun-tolerant than many ferns. It prefers moist, well-drained soil and grows best in humid conditions.
This fern is hardy in USDA Zones 8–11, so it can be grown outdoors in warmer climates or kept indoors as a houseplant in cooler areas. It’s perfect for pots, shady garden beds, or bathrooms, and it’s easy to care for with occasional pruning and light feeding in spring and summer.
It is Great for containers, borders, shady garden beds, or as a houseplant and Also works well in terrariums and bathrooms, where humidity is naturally higher.
The Leatherleaf Fern is a tough, evergreen fern known for its glossy, dark green fronds that feel leathery to the touch—hence the name. It is popular both as a garden plant and as a greenery filler in floral arrangements due to its durability and long-lasting fronds.
- Light: Prefers shade to part sun; can tolerate some morning or filtered sun.
- Soil: Moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil.
- Water: Regular watering; avoid soggy soil.
- USDA Zones: 9–11 (can be grown indoors in cooler zones).
- Uses: Great for shady gardens, containers, or floral arrangements.
It’s low-maintenance, sun-tolerant for a fern, and valued for its long-lasting foliage.
Evergreen ferns for shade:
The Cinnamon Fern is a striking, hardy fern known for its tall, graceful fronds and unique cinnamon-colored fertile spikes that rise from the center of the plant in spring. It’s native to North America and commonly found in moist woodlands, swamps, and along stream banks.
It is 3 to 5 feet tall, and it spreads 2 to 4 feet wide. It is upright and cinnamon-brown in color and appears in the center of the plant in spring. This fern prefers rich, acidic soil and needs consistent moisture to grow well. It’s best planted in partial to full shade, though it can handle a bit of morning sun if kept well-watered. Hardy in USDA Zones 3 to 7, the cinnamon fern is a great choice for natural, woodland-style gardens.
The Japanese Painted Fern is a popular ornamental fern known for its unique and colorful foliage. Unlike many other ferns that are plain green, this one has striking fronds in shades of silvery gray, green, and burgundy or purplish-red. It adds a beautiful contrast to shady garden areas and is prized for its decorative appearance.
| Benefit | Description |
|---|---|
| Beautiful Foliage | Striking silvery-gray fronds with burgundy or purple tones for visual interest. |
| Compact Size | Grows 12–24 inches tall and wide; ideal for small spaces or containers. |
| Great for Shade | Thrives in full to partial shade; perfect for woodland or shaded gardens. |
| Low Maintenance | Easy to grow with minimal care; just trim old fronds in early spring. |
| Cold Hardy | Grows well in USDA Zones 4–9; tolerates cold winters. |
| Versatile Use | Works well in borders, under trees, in pots, or as a shade groundcover. |
large evergreen ferns:
The Boston Fern is a timeless favorite for plant lovers, admired for its full, arching green fronds and soft, elegant appearance. It’s a perfect choice if you’re looking to add a fresh, calming, and natural touch to your home or garden.
Benefits of Boston Fern:
- Its lush, feathery fronds create a beautiful, graceful look that instantly brightens up indoor or outdoor spaces.
- This fern is known to be an excellent air purifier, helping remove toxins like formaldehyde and improving indoor air quality.
- It thrives in bright, indirect light, making it ideal for hanging baskets on shaded porches or near sunny windows.
- Because it loves high humidity, it’s perfect for bathrooms or kitchens, where it helps maintain a fresher, more natural environment.
- The plant is also non-toxic to pets, making it a safe and worry-free addition to pet-friendly homes.
- With regular care, including moist soil and occasional misting, it rewards you with long-lasting, vibrant green foliage.
USDA Hardiness Zone:
Zone 9–11 – In these warmer zones, Boston Ferns can be grown outdoors all year. In cooler regions, you can enjoy them indoors or outside during the warmer months and bring them in when temperatures drop.
Bird’s Nest Fern (Asplenium nidus) is a tropical fern known for its wide, wavy fronds that grow in a circular pattern, forming a shape that looks like a bird’s nest. It’s popular for its bold, lush appearance and easy-care nature.
It is a shade-loving fern and grows best in bright, indirect light. Direct sunlight can scorch its leaves, so it should be kept out of harsh sun. This fern also enjoys high humidity, making it perfect for bathrooms or shaded garden areas.
Bird’s Nest Fern is considered a large fern, as it can grow up to 3 to 5 feet wide under the right conditions. It needs moist, well-drained soil, and should be watered regularly, keeping the soil damp but not soggy.
This fern grows well outdoors in USDA Zones 9 to 11, where temperatures stay warm year-round. In cooler zones, it can be grown indoors as a houseplant.
Overall, the Bird’s Nest Fern is a beautiful, tropical-looking plant that adds lush greenery to shaded spaces, indoors or out.
Small Evergreen Ferns:
Maidenhair Spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes) is a small, hardy fern known for its delicate green leaflets and dark, wiry stems. It thrives in shaded, moist environments and is often found growing on rocks, walls, or in crevices, making it perfect for woodland or rock gardens.
This fern grows well in USDA hardiness zones 3 to 8 and typically reaches a height of 6 to 12 inches. It prefers partial to full shade and does best in moist, well-drained soil that is slightly acidic. Maidenhair Spleenwort is low-maintenance and a great choice for cool, shaded areas with consistent moisture.
The Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) is a hardy, evergreen fern native to North America. It grows well in shady to partly shaded areas and prefers moist, well-drained soil. This fern typically reaches a height of 1 to 2 feet, making it a small to medium-sized plant. It is suitable for USDA hardiness zones 3 to 9. Known for its toughness, the Christmas Fern is a hardy and low-maintenance plant, ideal for woodland gardens and controlling erosion on slopes. It is also deer-resistant and keeps its green fronds through winter, which is how it got its name.
Hardy evergreen ferns:
The Sword Fern (Polystichum munitum) is a hardy, evergreen fern native to western North America. It features long, arching, sword-shaped fronds and is well-suited for shady, moist environments, making it a popular choice for woodland gardens.
This fern grows best in USDA zones 3 to 8, where it can thrive in full to partial shade. It prefers moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. The plant typically reaches a height and width of 2 to 4 feet. Sword ferns are easy to care for, deer-resistant, and excellent for natural landscaping under trees.
The Royal Fern (Osmunda regalis) is a large and graceful fern known for its bright green, feathery fronds and tall, upright growth, reaching heights of 4 to 6 feet. It prefers partial to full shade and thrives best in wet or boggy soil, making it ideal for planting near pond edges or in rain gardens.
This fern grows well in USDA hardiness zones 3 to 9 and favors moist, acidic soil that is rich in organic matter. Royal Fern requires consistent moisture to stay healthy and is one of the most cold-hardy ferns, adding a lush, woodland feel to shaded garden areas.