A fantastic looking Fern with shiny, almost shiny plastic, fronds that grow 12-20 inches high. Fool all your friends! They'll think you're growing faux plants in your woodland. Z. 6-9

A triumph of the Pteridophyta (Fern family), this sport of the versatile Lady Fern displays its leaflets in a criss-cross pattern all up and down each frond. If you stand back from the backlit fronds, the intricate architecture of this Fern becomes immediately apparent. Each frond also ends in a little crest that resembles a tassel. The Victorians were enamored of these complex mutations, and literally hundreds of varieties were developed. 'Cruciatum' is one of the best. Grows 12-20 inches high. Z. 4-8

A dwarf Fern 6-12 inches high, 'Minutissima' has short dense fronds. Z. 4-8

Beautiful soft gray-green foliage stained with wine-purple along the veins is a pleasing feature of the Japanese Painted Fern. This Fern forms a clump of arching, tapered fronds 15-18 inches high. Give it a shady, moist spot that is well-drained and rich in organic matter. Z. 5-8

Beautifully marked in silver, green, and purple, the foliage of this recent selection is also crested at the pinna (leaflet) tips and at the tip of each frond. It looks rich and lush and grows to about 2 feet high. Z. 5-8

Probably a hybrid, this Painted Fern selection grows vigorously in a lush, gently spreading clump. The fronds have a reddish tinge. Z. 5-8

The fanciful common name is easier on the organs of speech than its botanical moniker, but this is an impressive, spreading Fern for a spot in your woodland to be filled in quickly. The bright green, lazily pendulous fronds will soon form a Fern thicket if left unchecked. If happy, this Fern may grow to 3-4 feet or even more. Hence, Big Brother Fern! Z. 4-8

Slow to start in spring, but once this guy gets going, the long, leathery fronds can reach 4 feet! Tall and tough, this Fern is happiest in moist, well-drained soil and is even somewhat sun tolerant in areas where summers are not too hot. Z. 5-8

A handsome vase-shaped clumper, this woodland species from East Asia has polished fronds that are evergreen. In spring and fall the new growth is a rosy copper, and the spore clusters on the back of the fronds are bright red before ripening. Plant in a shady site away from sharp winds. Our plants should size up quickly in your garden to about 24 inches. Georgia Gold Medal Award. Z. 5-9

A handsome vase-shaped clumper, this woodland species from East Asia has polished fronds that are evergreen. In spring and fall the new growth is a rosy copper, and the spore clusters on the back of the fronds are bright red before ripening. This selection boasts even brighter new shoots than the species. Plant in a shady site away from sharp winds. Our plants should size up quickly in your garden to about 24 inches. Z. 5-9

Shiny, erect fronds up to 2 feet long look lush and hint at the tropics. This evergreen Fern grows dense, and the ends of the fronds droop somewhat at the tips—most elegant! Z. 6-9

This deciduous Dryopteris is a slender, vase-shaped plant with fronds 18-36 inches long. The fronds are narrow and held stiffly erect. Z. 5-8

A naturally occurring hybrid, this Fern bears broad fronds to perhaps 4-5 feet that are nevertheless delicate in outline. Z. 5-8

A semi-evergreen Fern of southeastern swamps and wet woods with occasional populations north to New York, the Log Fern has handsome, deep green fronds 3-4 feet long with elegant, slender leaflet tips. As the common name would suggest, this Fern likes to inhabit rotting logs or other suitable habitats rich in organic matter. Z. 5-9

Arching, lustrous semi-evergreen fronds 20-30 inches high create a beautiful picture in the shade garden. The fronds appear to be an unusually brilliant green. Z. 5-9

A clumping Fern with shiny, polished fronds that angle out from the base of the foliage before recurving downward. One of the most elegant Ferns hardy in our area, Tassel Fern grows to about 18 inches in shade and moist soil. Z. 6-9