I love the painted ferns! I had one I ordered from Spring Hill Nursery and it never really took off... just sprouted a little and died. Hopefully the replacement comes soon!

The Autumn Ferns are really nice. I love the shape and color. Would these do OK in a sunnier area as long as they have water?

Kevin

what ever happened with your wall project

thx for the fern tour

ken

Japanese painted ferns. Like I said, you've got to plant them in the front, then they really stand out:

And yet I have the opposite. I have some JPF planted several years ago positioned way, way at the back. And there is no doubt it is only I who know they are there! I guess given my limited space I am not yet horticulturally mature enough to give away the front of the garden to non flowering perennials.

But now that I think of it I have a new shade garden that for sure I could include some of the JPF in a more up front location. How did I miss that?

Ken -- the project is in the design stage, I'm supposed to review the design this week with the company, scheduled to get done this summer. I am NOT happy about having to spend the $$$ but no doubt it will look fantastic when it's done. Thanks for asking :0)

Kevin -- I think the autumn ferns would do fine in a part-sun location. I probably wouldn't plant them in full sun, though.

I agree - autumn ferns are wonderful plants! so are JPFs...

Have you tried 'Ghost' ferns? They are nice.

I planted some Branford Beauty ferns in 2011 - they look to have promise of good silvery interest but are still very small so I have my fingers crossed that they will bulk up nicely sometime soon!

mxk3 wrote: Japanese painted ferns. Like I said, you've got to plant them in the front, then they really stand out:

Because of your thread I went out and bought two JPF and planted them at opposite ends of a shady front border! The specific variety is "Burgundy Lace".

Are you familiar with BL?

I was just out in the backyard with the camera and thought of this thread when I passed my favorite ferns. I couldn't tell you what the green one on the left is :-) but the silvery one on the right is a 'Ghost' fern - that one is definitely worth adding!
{{gwi:197350}}

I LOVE Athyrium 'Ghost'. Truly one of my favorites, and it has the size and presence to really light up a shaded area. Once it really settles in it just gets better and better each year. One of my friends has had a clump in his garden since 2004. For the past several years, it has been a showstopper. I can't wait till my own plants grow up.

I have been curious about 'Branford Beauty'. Anyone know how it differs from 'Ghost'? The descriptions sound very similar if not identical.

I have also noticed one called 'Ocean's Fury' in catalogues. It seems to be like a crested version of 'Ghost'.

I just ordered a few northern maidenhairs, Adiantum pedatum, to add to my shade bed. These seem to be hardier than I thought as long as they stay moist. I expect great things to come in a few years! :-)

I planted a couple of Branford Beauty a year or two ago. They are very small still; at this point they have more of the low/wide look of a JPF, so I'm not sure yet hom they'll look longterm.

hey.. the wall.. did you go with a mason.. or a landscaper.. that was the pressing issue...

ken