Hardy Ferns


Hardy ferns for shaded UK gardens: evergreen shield ferns, autumn-toned Dryopteris, delicate lady ferns and more. Elegant, low-maintenance foliage for woodland corners, north-facing borders and shady containers.

12 products

    12 products
    Polystichum lepidocaulon Plants - Outdoor GrowTropicals

    Polystichum lepidocaulon

    £15.99 £25.99
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    Cyrtomium fortunei 'clivicola' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Cyrtomium fortunei 'clivicola'

    £4.99
    1
    Matteuccia struthiopteris Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Ostrich Fern (Shuttlecock Fern)

    Matteuccia struthiopteris

    £8.99
    1
    Polystichum tsus-simense Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Korean Rock Fern

    Polystichum tsus-simense

    £8.99
    1
    Blechnum tabulare Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Mountain blechnum

    Blechnum tabulare

    £37.99
    1
    Dryopteris filix-mas 'Linearis Polydactyla' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Male Fern

    Dryopteris filix-mas 'Linearis Polydactyla'

    £7.99
    1
    Dryopteris koidzumiana Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Dryopteris koidzumiana

    £10.99
    1
    Polystichum setiferum Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Soft Shield Fern

    Polystichum setiferum

    £7.99
    1
    Dryopteris erythrosora Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Autumn Fern

    Dryopteris erythrosora

    £13.99
    1
    Polystichum polyblepharum 11cm / 0.75L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Japanese Tassel Fern

    Polystichum polyblepharum

    £8.99
    1
    Dryopteris affinis 'Crispa' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Dryopteris affinis 'Crispa'

    £8.99
    1
    Blechnum spicant Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Deer Fern

    Blechnum spicant

    £16.99
    1

    The GrowTropicals Guide to Hardy Ferns

    What are hardy ferns?

    Hardy ferns are one of the most underused groups of plants for UK shade. Evergreen shield ferns (Polystichum), autumn-toned Dryopteris erythrosora, elegant lady ferns and the tough Blechnum genus all thrive in the cool, damp conditions that most flowering plants struggle in. Many are evergreen, giving structure and colour through winter when the rest of the shady border is bare. Read our honest guide to what to expect from hardy exotics through the seasons before ordering.

    Care essentials for hardy ferns

    • Position: Partial to full shade for most species. Some (Polystichum setiferum, Dryopteris affinis) tolerate a couple of hours of morning sun.
    • Soil: Cool, humus-rich, moist but well-drained. A generous mulch of leafmould each spring keeps roots happy.
    • Hardiness: Most hardy ferns are RHS H6 or H7 (fully hardy across the UK). Product pages carry the individual rating.
    • Watering: Keep evenly moist in the first season. Once established, most hardy ferns are surprisingly drought-tolerant provided they get consistent shade.
    • Spring tidy: Cut back tired old fronds in early spring before the new fiddleheads emerge. Do not prune otherwise.

    Explore the hardy fern range

    Combine hardy ferns with tree ferns for a layered canopy, or with other plants for shade for a full woodland effect. See the wider Hardy Exotics range for compatible companions.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Some are and some are not. Evergreen ferns like Polystichum and many Dryopteris keep their fronds through winter, giving you structure all year, which is especially welcome in a small courtyard or on a balcony. Deciduous ferns die back in autumn and push out fresh growth in spring, so planting a mix of both gives you winter cover and a lovely new flush each spring.

    Dryopteris and Polystichum are the toughest for difficult shade and cope with drier soil once established. Improve the soil with plenty of organic matter and water well in the first year, and they will settle in happily in spots where little else will grow.

    Yes, ferns are some of the best plants for a shady patio, balcony or courtyard. Use a loam-based, peat-free compost with added leaf mould or bark, choose a pot with drainage holes, and water through summer, as containers dry out faster than open ground.

    All the ferns in this collection are hardy in the UK and most shrug off a normal British winter once established. In very cold spots a light mulch over the crown in late autumn adds protection, and leaving the old fronds in place over winter helps shelter the centre of the plant.

    Spring and autumn are ideal, when the soil is moist and the roots can establish. Pot-grown ferns can go in at almost any time of year as long as you keep them watered, but avoid planting into frozen or waterlogged ground in midwinter.

    Keep the soil consistently moist for the first growing season while they settle in. After that, established ferns in the ground are fairly self-sufficient except in long dry spells, while ferns in pots need regular watering through summer.

    Hardy ferns for shade and structure

    Ferns are the quiet workhorses of a shady garden. Where most plants sulk in low light, hardy ferns unfurl fresh fronds year after year, bringing texture and a calm, woodland feel to borders, north-facing beds and the damp corners that are always tricky to fill. Whether you have a big shaded border to furnish or a single pot by a basement door, there is a fern here to suit, and once settled in they ask very little of you.

    Which ferns are best for shade?

    Almost every fern in this collection is happy out of direct sun. For deep or dry shade, the tougher Dryopteris (the male and buckler ferns) and Polystichum (the shield ferns) cope with less moisture once established. For a lusher look in damp shade, Athyrium and the soft shield ferns give finely cut, almost lacy foliage. For a bigger statement, the trunked species in our tree ferns collection bring the same woodland feel up at head height.

    Ferns for patios, balconies and small courtyards

    You do not need a garden to grow ferns. They are some of the best plants for a shady city balcony, a north-facing patio or a basement courtyard, exactly the spots where sun lovers struggle. Grown in pots they stay neat, and evergreen kinds give you greenery right through winter. Use a loam-based, peat-free compost with a little leaf mould or bark, pick a container with drainage holes, and keep it out of harsh afternoon sun. The main job through summer is simply not letting the pot dry out completely.

    Evergreen or deciduous?

    Some ferns hold their fronds right through winter; others die back and return in spring. Evergreen ferns like Polystichum keep structure over the colder months, which is useful in a small space you look at every day, while deciduous ferns reward you with a bright new flush each spring. A mix of both keeps a border or a cluster of pots interesting all year.

    Planting and care

    Plant in spring or autumn into soil improved with plenty of organic matter, water well through the first season, and mulch in spring to lock in moisture. Tidy away tired or winter-damaged fronds before the new growth appears and they more or less look after themselves. Every fern we send is nursery grown, well rooted and ready to plant, whether it is going into a woodland border or a pot on the balcony.