Design Idea

Deer Fern

Blechnum

Blechnum brasiliense
A fast growing, large fern, that eventually forms a trunk up to 3 feet high, with leaves up to 36 x 15 inches. It is native to Peru and Brazil.
Hardy zones 9 to 12.

* photo of unknown internet source


Blechnum chilense
A fast growing to invasive fern, reaching up to 6 feet in height, eventually spreading to form extensive colonies.
Hardy zones 8 to 9

Blechnum discolor
A very ornamental fern that eventually forms a trunk up to 1 foot in height producing a plant with a 3 foot total height. This fern eventually spreads to produce large colonies of rosettes.
The bright green radiating fronds are up to 36 x 6 inches in size.
It thrives in partial to full shade ( even full sun if soil is continually very moist )

Blechnum fluviatile
A fern native to New Zealand and southern Australia, that spreads to eventually form extensive colonies of rosettes. The fronds are up to 28 inches in length.
Hardy zones 8 to 9 in full shade.

* photo of unknown internet source


Blechnum gibbum
A fern native to Fiji, that eventually forms a trunk up to 2 feet high.
The leaves are up to 3 feet in length.
Hardy zones 10 to 12

* photo of unknown internet source


Blechnum nudum
A vigorous spreading fern, that is native to southeastern Australia.
The fronds are up to 3 feet in length.
Hardy zones 9 to 10

Blechnum orientale
A vigorous fern, forming a trunk up to 3 feet in height, that is native to the Himalayas, China and southeast Asia.
The 1-pinnate leaves, up to 5 x 3 feet, are divided into leaflets up to 8 inches in length.

Blechnum penna-marina ( Dwarf Hard Fern )
A fast growing fern native to southern South America, New Zealand and southern Australia, that eventually forms extensive mats due to its creeping rhizomes. It makes an excellent groundcover and thrives in coastal British Columbia, the Pacific Northwest and milder parts of western Europe. The Dwarf Hard Fern reaches a maximum height of only 1 foot.
The narrow fronds, up to 8 inches in length, are deep green.
Hardy zones 8 to 9

Blechnum spicant ( Deer Fern )
A compact, evergreen fern, reaching up to 20 x inches x 3.3 feet ( very rarely 3 feet in height ), that is native to the northwest U.S. from Alaska to northern California and also in Eurasia. It makes a very attractive landscape plant that looks especially good planted with large boulder.
The sturdy, narrow, lance-shaped leathery fronds, up to 42 x 6 ( usually half that ) are glossy deep green.
Hardy zones 3 to 8 ( only hardiest seed source hardy north of zone 5 ) in partial to full shade on humus-rich, moist, acidic, well drained soil. The Deer Fern will tolerate some sun if the soil is consistently moist. It is not eaten by deer. This Fern is very low maintenance but old tired fronds can be removed during spring when the new fronds appear to give the plant a fresher appearance.

Serratum
Densely arranged, deeply-toothed leaflets.

Blechnum tabulare
A fern, reaching up to 3 x 4 feet.
Hardy zones 8 to 9

* photo of unknown internet source


RELATED PLANTS

Asplenium

Asplenium antiquum
A very attractive large Fern that is native to Okinawa in Japan where it is endangered with extinction. It is very similar in appearance to A. nidus.
It makes a great landscape plant for subtropical climates.
The leathery non-divided, oblanceolate fronds are up to 40 x 4 inches in size.
Hardy zones 9 to 10.

Asplenium nidus ( Birds Nest Fern )
A large Fern with non-divided oblanceolate fronds, up to 5 feet x 8 inches. The foliage is glossy bright green. It is native to subtropical and tropical southeast Asia as well as northern Queensland in Australia. It is often grown in cooler regions as an indoor plant.
Hardy zones 10 to 12 in partial to full shade in humid warm climates.
It will often grow on the trunks of trees.

Asplenium scopulendnum ( Harts-tongue Fern )
Also called Phyllitis scolopendrium. A very attractive, rhizomatous, evergreen fern, up to 3 feet across, that is native to North America ( Ontario, Michigan and New York State ) where it is endangered.
The erect, leathery, oblanceolate fronds, up to 24 x 3 inches, are bright green.

Giganteum
Moderate growing, with larger fronds, up to 36 x 4 inches in size.

Asplenium serratum ( Caribbean Nest Fern )
A very attractive tropical Fern that is native to south Florida, the Caribbean and Mexico to South America.
The leaves are up to 30 x 3 inches in size.