Fern question for Z8b and colder

I posted this question on the Ferns forum but am not getting a response. I probably should've posted it here in the first place, I think. I just received a "Macho" Fern (Nephrolepis biserrata). Tag says hardy to zone 9. OK, so I could pot it up and bring it inside in winter, but it would look soooo lovely in-ground.

Anybody tried overwintering this fern in Zone 8? If so - success? or..not so much?

Thanks,
Debbie

Deb, I am in more of a 9 zone but since no one else answered........ I have macho fern in the ground and it has become a big beautiful pest. It was slow to start up the second year and just sprouted here and there. This year it is a large spread of gorgeous fern. Trouble is I didn't know it would spread like that and it is swallowing other plants. I'll try and remember to take a picture tomorrow, it is raining right now - Yaaayyyyyyyy.

Some folks on the ferns forum said they weren't too sure it was a good idea for me to plant it out, but then, none of them are in this zone - so it's still an open question. I may keep it in the pot over this winter and decide next spring.

I'd love to see a pic of yours. Please do post one. Glad you're getting the rain! Yahooo!!!
Deb

"raining right now - Yaaayyyyyyyy."


I am envious. I watered today (praying the well would not run dry) and got eaten alive by mosquitos -- I don't think they were especially after blood...just liquid.

This message was edited Aug 31, 2007 8:09 PM

You guys have really had a bad summer. It is so disheartening to watch the soil get completely dry, even the worms can't get through. A lot of wells ran dry here earlier this year and if they didn't dry up they had salt water intrusion. For the people that didn't know enough to have the water tested it was almost worse than having them dry up.

Hope you get some of this moisture, it's your turn.

My Macho. Sorry I took the photo in the full sun and it is a bit washed out but you can see enough. It spread for about 8'.

Oh my! It's gorgeous. And...very large. LOL!
What a difference a zone makes.
I still can't decide. :)
Deb

Wow, that really is a gorgeous fern!! I'm thinking about putting some ferns in back, under the trees. Even if they die back, won't they come back in the spring?

SCNewbie: There are some ferns that are supposed to be fairly large and evergreen in colder zones. I planted a few this year...so I haven't got proof of their hardiness yet. Examples are:
Dryopteris championii (Champion wood fern), polystichum aculeatum (hard shield fern), osmunda cinnamonea (cinnamon fern), dryopteris australis (dixie wood fern), & dryopteris pseudo filixmas(?) (Mexican male fern).

Deb

Thanks, I check those out. :)

Christmas Fern would do well in Anderson and it is evergreen also.

http://www.ct-botanical-society.org/ferns/polystichumacro.html

That's a great suggestion - thank you!!