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Excellent landscape and woodland plants, giving an airy look or graceful accent to a garden. Ferns do well in shady, moist areas and require little maintenance. Distinguished by the variation in foliage. Generally avoided by deer and rabbits.
Athyrium (Lady Fern)
Branford Beauty – upright silver gray fronds on reddish stems – 24”
Ghost – frosted apple-green fronds on dark purple stems – 24-36”
niponicum pictum (Japanese Painted Fern) - hardy variegated fern - silver, green and red fronds - 12-18” (2004 Perennial of the Year)
Deparia
pycnosora – yellow-green fronds – good for woodlands – 18-42”
Dryopteris (Wood Fern)
Autumn Fern – new foliage is copper-orange – 18-24”h x 18-24”w
Champion Wood Fern – neat, dark green fronds all year – 12-36”
erythrosora (Japanese Red Shield) emerges coppery bronze pink, aging to deep, glossy green - evergreen - upright thru winter - 24”
Goldiana – beautiful arching fronds – largest native in northeast – 3-4’
Wallichiana – graceful, frilly, glossy fronds – 2-3’
Gymnocarpium (Oak Fern) plumosum – chartreuse fronds – needs limey, moist soil – 8-10”
Matteuccia (Ostrich Fern)
struthiopteris – large green fronds resembling ostrich plumes – needs moist soil – tall vase-shaped form – spreads rapidly - 36-60”
Osmunda
regalis purpurascens (Royal Fern) – purple-red new growth – keeps a stripe all year – 3-6’
Phyllitus (Heart’s Tongue Fern)
scolopendrium Cristatum – bright green, leathery evergreen – 1’
Polypodium
vulgare – erect, lance-shaped, evergreen fronds – 3-10”
Polystichum (Tassel Fern)
acrostichoides (Christmas Fern) – silvery fiddleheads in spring, dark green leathery fronds year round - moist or dry conditions - 12-30”
aculeatum – rigid, leathery, glossy fronds – emerges limegreen – 30”
Braunii (Braun’s Holly Fern) – Native – emerges silvery – 1-2’
polyblopharum – very showy – glossy, dark green fronds – 1-2’
setiferum Congestum – erect, dusky gray-green fronds – crested - 12”
setiferum Herrenhausen – dense frilled parsley-like fronds – 10-12”
Thelypteris (Marsh Fern)
decursive-pinnata (Japanese Beech Fern) – clumping, tidy habit – mature fronds become brilliant, yellow-green – 1-2’
palustris – bluish-green – wide creeping habit – moist soil – 24-36”
GRASSES
(ORNAMENTAL) top
Extremely useful landscape plants that are noted for their form, foliage and flowers. Ornamental grasses create pivotal points and movement in any garden, provide winter interest, are generally easy to grow and avoided by deer.
Acorus (Sweet Flag)
Grass-like evergreen perennial. Sweet scented leaves grow in a fan shape. Easy to grow in moist soil or in shallow water. Frost hardy.
Calamagrostis (Feather Reed Grass)
Showiest of ornamental grasses. Prefers rich, moist soil but can tolerate heavy clay. Regular division of clumps keeps size in check.
acutiflora Eldorado – narrow green blades, gold center margins – feathery plumes, Summer-Fall – 4-5’
acutiflora Overdam – creamy margins with a pink blush – feathery plumes with purple seed heads fade to beige - clumping habit – 60”
Carex (Sedge)
Sedges are one of the few grasses that tolerate part shade. No significant plumes or flowers.
elata Bowles Golden – bright gold, thin green margins – constant moisture – 3’
hachijoensis Evergold (Variegated Japanese Sedge) – part to dull shade – creamy yellow center with green margins – weeping habit – dry to average soil - groundcover - 12”
Chasmanthium (Northern Sea Oats)
latifolium – Native – bamboo-like foliage – showy drooping oat-like flowers – clumping, vigorous spreader – moist soil - 2-3’
Festuca (Blue Fescue)
Amethystina Superba – fine, blue foliage – red-stemmed tassels – 18”
cinerea Blue Glow – icy-blue, narrow blades – flowers in June – 8-10”
glauca Boulder Blue – metallic powder wiry blue – wheat-like blue seed heads, mid-late Spring - 10”x 12”
glauca Elijah Blue - tufts of very fine blue foliage with taller flower spikes – year round color – loose, well-drained soil - 8-10”
Hakonechloa (Japanese Forest Grass)
All Gold – wide glowing gold foliage – more upright and spiky – 12”
Beni Kazi - flowing foliage creates a fountain-like effect – green foliage turns red in fall – 18”x24”
macra Aureola – cascading yellow foliage, narrow green margins, turns reddish-pink in fall – spreads slowly – non-invasive – 12-24”
Helictotrichon (Blue Oat Grass)
sempervirens – blue gray foliage sprays upward and arches back downward at the tips – small tan seed heads – 24-30”
Imperata (Japanese Blood Grass)
cylindrical Red Barron - 1-2’ blood red blades with green base -attractive - 24”
Leymus (Dune Grass)
arenarius Blue Dune – metallic blue foliage forms arching clump - tolerates sun, sand and drought – 3-4’
Luzula (Wood Rush)
Ruby Stiletto – red tipped, red edged foliage – best color in winter and early spring – May-June flowers – compact – 12”
sylvatica – shiny green foliage with fine white margins – dense clumps – prefers moisture but is drought tolerant - 12”
Miscanthus (Maiden Grass)
Neat clumps with upright stems and arching leaves. Graceful plumes form in late summer. Fertile, moist, well-drained soil.
Adagio – thin foliage, white mid-rib – pinkish to white blooms - dwarf – 2’
Dixieland – green, white variegated foliage – silky pink plumes – compact – 4-5’
Gracillimus – fine, silver-veined green leaves – feathery, fine-textured creamy plumes – 60-72”
Graziella – fine, slender leaves turn copper-red in fall – graceful silvery-white plumes, Aug - 60-72”
Little Zebra – strong gold banded narrow leaves – reddish-purple plumes in August, tan in winter – 36-48”
Morning Light – fine textured leaves with white margins – bronzy-red plumes appear late – beautiful, refined look - 48-60”
Nippon – dark green with silver midribs – wine colored
Purpurascens (Flame Grass) – deep green foliage, shades of red in fall – magenta plumes – upright, compact – 48-72”
Rigaletto - dwarf, creamy white and green vertical variegation - 3’x 3’
Variegatus – green-white variegated – arching habit – 48-72”
Zebrinus (Zebra Grass) - yellow bands across dark green foliage - coppery pink blooms in Sept – arching – 48-60”
Panicum (Switch Grass)
American prairie grass with nice ornamental qualities. Best in moist, fertile soils. Tolerates less than ideal conditions.
amarum Dewey Blue (Bitter Switch Grass) – Native – blue foliage with fountain form – blue tinged flowers atop tall arching stems, late Summer – 3-5’
virgatum Dallas Blues – wide blue leaves – soft pink seed heads – 6-8’
virgatum Heavy Metal - blue foliage, yellow fall color - upright - blooms July- Sept – 48”
virgatum Prairie Fire – blue-green foliage, wine-red in early summer – rosy flower panicles – 48-60”
virgatum Shenandoah – bright red foliage – red plumes – 3’
Pennisetum (Fountain Grass)
Flat green leaf blades. Dense clusters of enormous flower tassels summer and fall. Provides texture to any garden. Fertile, well-drained soil.
alopecuroides Hameln – fine textured leaves – green-white seed heads in July turning tan - dwarf – 24”
orientale Karley Rose – upright clumps of arching green foliage – rose-purple plumes – drought tolerant – 36-40”
setaceum Rubrum – deep red foliage – purple red plumes – 3-4’ (Zone 9 - Not Hardy - Should be treated as Annual in this zone)
Phalaris (Ribbon Grass)
Outstanding accent plant. Prefers moist areas such as stream or pond side. Good erosion control or groundcover. Vigorous spreader.
arundinacea Feesey - green and white variegated leaves tinted pink in spring and fall – soft white flower panicles – 24”
arundinacea Strawberries and Cream – white-striped variegated leaves blush with pink in cool seasons – 24-36”
Sorghastrum (Indian Grass)
Indian Steel – blue-green blades, yellow in fall – upright, clumping – 3’
Spodiopogon
sibircus – wide foliage held horizontally on upright stems which give this grass a bamboo-like look – 3-4’
Uncinia
Firedance (Red Hook Sedge) – spectacular slender red to deep purple blades - narrow clumps - 6-8”
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