I've tried ferns indoors - I kill 'em.
I tried a Japanese painted fern outdoors last year - Texas heat killed it.
I figured I won't have ferns in my life. *sniff*
But then I ran across the "Christmas" fern bare root at Wal-Mart, and searched it here, and think it might work...maybe?
Anyone in North Texas actually grow ferns successfully outdoors, and what types?
Best Ferns for North Texas (7b)?
Larissa, these ferns are hardy to,
zone 4 Cinamon Fern, Osmunda cinnamomea
zone 7 Alabama Lipfern, Cheilanthes alabamensis
zone 3 Cutleaf grapefern, Botrychium dissectum
zone 3 Lady Fern, Athyrium filix-femina
zone 7 Common Maidenhair, Adiantum capillus-veneris
These are all on Dave's plant files and they are all Texas natives.
There are more, but these should take care of your needs.
Josephine.
Josephine, I didn't know cinnamon fern was hardy here. Oh now, I know I have to get this plant. I can't find it in any nursery yet. I asked everywhere last year and nobody even knew what I was talking about. I could have bought through a coop a few weeks ago, but I didn't know about the coop until it was too late. I'll watch the coops closer from now on.
Mary Lee, if I am not mistaken Ceejay had some at the r.u. last spring, may be she still has it.
I hope I didn't get you in trouble Ceejay!!!.
Well, if she doesn't have any to share atleast she can tell me where she got it maybe.
Larissa ~ I grow sword ferns in ground. They will die down with frost but come back in the spring. Are you wanting an evergreen fern or...?
Thanks guys!
Podster, evergreen, perennial, no matter. I'm just thrilled there are ferns for Texas. I figured they all wanted too much moisture, less intense heat, or warmer winters than we had to offer!
I find when rootbound the sword fern needs way too much water. I kept in pots but when tired of watering, I pulled them out. They were primarily roots which I started sawing into pieces to repot. I finally got tired and plopped them in ground. When I got these, they were being thrown away. Full of fireants and rootbound. I dosed them with ant poison and put them in a corner and forgot about them. They reminded me in spring with green foliage. I do like them and the abuse they will take. http://davesgarden.com/journal/j/viewentry/110454/
The following I keep in pots and wonder if they would be even less frost sensitive in ground.
This fern is potted and left outdoors all winter (we have had quite a few low 20's nights) The leaf tips look a little ratty but this plant is still green. I like it too ~ leather leaf fern. http://davesgarden.com/journal/j/viewentry/111097/
... and this year, I didn't even cover the potted ferns ( because I had a destructive little dog ) and the arborvitae fern is still a brown green. It does seem to be more fragile. http://davesgarden.com/journal/j/viewentry/111095/
The asparagus and foxtail ferns are more common. They have been frostbitten but will come back from roots. http://davesgarden.com/journal/j/viewentry/110276/
Podster, I was very surprised to learn that sword fern can be grown in the ground here. I have some already in a pot. But is it one of those plants that spreads too aggressively? I have asparagus fern and I already know not to put that in the ground. I also have a foxtail fern. It would be great if I could put these in the ground and not take up space in the greenhouse with them next year. I have a male fern also that I want to put in the ground this year, but I'm trying to find out more info about it first, like is it invasive. I don't want to plant thugs.:)
We have asparagus fern in the ground and it hasn't misbehaved yet. It grows nicely, but hasn't escaped at all. It is heavily shaded where it is, though, which might be why.
Silverfluter, If you think asparagus or foxtail might not come back in ground, dig some to pot up and keep overwinter. They have thick bulbous roots and when I let the pots freeze, the asparagus comes back in spring. I will find out if the foxtail will this year. If not, I have a start of it saved. If you don't want to put it in ground as it might spread (?) you could contain it underground. I have had the asparagus fern blooms set seed and reproduce that way in order to spread also.
The sword fern is not terribly invasive in my soil but I suspect in a good bed with ample water, look out! I have not devoted extensive time to improving beds and am stingy with watering also. You might find it to be a troublemaker in ground for you... pod