Ferns are plants that are evolutionarily very old.They appeared on Earth hundreds of millions of years ago and dominated the flora of our planet for a long time.In prehistoric times, there were about a million species of ferns, many of which were spectacularly large. The most powerful of them grew up to 30 m.
The present-day traces of the presence of ferns are deposits of hard coal, produced in the Permian and Carboniferous periods. Currently, there are only about 10,000 in the world. species, of which
50 are naturally occurring in Poland, including water ferns, and almost half of them are under protection. Currently, ferns are rediscovered and introduced to gardens, which is in line with the current trend and fashion for perennials.Certainly, the appearance of new interesting varieties on the market favors their popularization, especially since they are not plants difficult to grow.
Ferns grow well in moist soils with a high content of organic matter, in shady or semi-shaded positions. They feel perfectly planted on the northern side of buildings, brick fences, as well as under the canopy of trees and tall shrubs, on the banks of streams and ponds. Of course, and there are exceptions to this rule, for example, the ostrich plume Matteucia strupthiopteris tolerates direct sunlight, and even periodic water shortage.That is why this fern is commonly used both in home gardens and in urban greenery.Also great for growing in containers.
Looking closer at the ferns, you can see that most of them have leaves growing from an underground rhizome.These leaves can be seasonal or evergreen and have a dual function: they are responsible for photosynthesis (barren leaves) and reproduction (fertile leaves).Both types of leaves, depending on the species, may look identical (e.g. utongue ) or completely different (in the ostrich plume).In most species, sporangia with spores form on the underside of fertile leaves. Ferns spread with spores, do not form flowers or seeds, so even a very diligent search for a fern flower is doomed to failure.
The most popular garden ferns
An interesting fern that forms evergreen saber leaves in the form of a rosette is the common tongue Asplenium scolopendrium. The leaf blades are narrowing towards their tops, they are pointed at the tops, slightly wavy at the edge, leathery, shiny from the top.An additional ornament of this plant are sporangia appearing on the underside of some leaves.They are arranged in transverse rows on both sides of the main vein.In the 'Cristata' variety, the leaf blades in the upper part are branched, wavy, and irregularly notched and crimped at the edge.
A completely different type of leaf is formed by ferns belonging to the genus Dryopteris. Dryopteris erythrosora leaves are openwork and grow out of a thick, crawling rhizome. The leaf blades are symmetrical, flat and triangular in outline.The sporangia formed on the underside of the leaves are covered with a kidney-shaped curl, the shape of which has been included in the generic name of the kidney.Young leaves take on an attractive copper color, older leaves dark green, leathery and shiny.
Nerecznica strong Dryopteris affinis is a species often found all over Poland, forming funnel-shaped rosettes of upright leaves. Its variety 'Cristata' has feathery leaves, additionally dividing two or even three times, as a result of which the leaf blades obtain a "lace finish".The female cashew Dryopterisf ilixmas 'Linearis' has even more delicate, feathery, openwork leaves with strongly indented gills. This beautiful plant does best when shaded in moist humus soil.
Wallich's Nerecznica Dryopteris Wallichiana resembles an ostrich plume, but its leaves are more rigid, slightly smaller, and the gills themselves are darker, although in a very vivid shade of green. In mild winters, some leaves may remain green.
Also noteworthy is the polystichum setiferum, a domestic species of fern with a thick, woody rhizome. This small, low fern and its numerous varieties, incl. 'Grandiceps', are great for rock gardens.
Leaves in the shape of a crosier
Dlugosz Królewski Osmunda regalis is one of the most beautiful and tallest ferns in Poland, very rarely found in nature in the country, usually in peat bogs and in wet forests, under strict species protection. This plant forms an underground vertical rhizome, from which grows impressive height, light green leaves up to 2 m long standing on petioles.Young leaves are brownish mossy and curled in the shape of a crosier. They develop in May. Royal Dlugosz is a valuable plant for naturalistic gardens and on the shores of water reservoirs.
Ferns perfect for casing
To turf and cover shady and damp places, use the Onoclea sensibilis sensitive onoclea from Asia, which grows widely with the help of underground rhizomes.This plant produces decorative, deeply cut, delicate, bluish-green barren leaves with deeply cut blades.
Planted in constantly humid places, it tolerates full sun exposure. The Blechnum spicant is also a very interesting domestic species.It is an evergreen fern with singly pinnate, erect and stiff barren leaves resembling a fish skeleton or a double-sided comb.
The beauty of the ferns
1. The non-sprinkled Adiantum pedatum likes fertile, slightly acidic and well-drained soils.
2. Eurasian tongue, Asplenium scolopendrium 'Cristata', can be grown in sunny, semi-shaded and shady places.
3. Blechnum spicant root fins prefer a sterile, moist and acidic medium.
4. The strong cap Dryopteris affinis 'Cristata' requires shady and semi-shaded sites.
