Green up landscape with ferns By Terry Brite DelValle Horticultural extension agent with the University of Florida and the city of Jacksonville Ferns remind us of cool, moist woodlands. There are more than 10,000 species of ferns in a variety of shapes, textures and shades of green. In the landscape, they can be used as accents, fillers or background plants. Appendices tell readers which ferns are appropriate for indoor decoration, which grow well in wet soils and which make good ground covers. Considered one of the more primitive plants forms, ferns date back to the time of dinosaurs.
Ferns are unusual because they are non-flowering plants that reproduce by spores.
Spores can be found on the underside of mature leaves and are often mistaken for brown scale insects. To grow ferns in the landscape, select a site that gets indirect or only morning light. Use them as a ground cover around the base of trees, or place them on the north side of the house in front of taller shrubs. In fact, most ferns can be planted anywhere as long as they don't got hot mid-day to afternoon sun. Soil should be rich but well-drained.