To this end it encourages correspondence and the exchange of information and specimens between members via its newsletter the Fiddlehead Forum. These field trips provide a wonderful way to learn more about wild ferns from experts and also afford an occasion to meet other people with a similar passion for ferns. This web page is designed to expand on this exchange of information with amateurs and professionals around the world. We hope that in this way many more people will be able to explore these interesting plants and their allies. Ferns are a diverse, highly-evolved group of plants, yet they retain many of the characteristics that were present when plants first ventured out of the sea and onto land over 400 million years ago.
Ferns are also great plants for indoor and outdoor gardening.
There are types that are great for shade gardens, sun gardens, rock gardens, ponds, bog gardens, flower borders, and just about everywhere. The American Fern Society Spore Exchange maintains a collection of fresh spores from over 800 different species of ferns . The current list may be accessed by visiting our American Fern Society Spore Exchange. The American Fern Society has three publications. The Fiddlehead Forum targets the interests of amateurs.