Add greenery to your front porch or back door with these shade-loving ferns in hanging baskets.
These popular plants are a common sight onSouthern porches.
Depending on the variety, ferns will trail or arch, adding lush foliage to any container.
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Here are the 20 best ferns forhanging basketsor containers on your porch or patio.
It is hardy inUSDA Plant Hardiness Zones 9-11.
Indoors, it needs bright, indirect light.
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This slow-growing fern is the most drought-tolerant of the commonly grown ferns but it thrives in a humid environment.
Its short fronds have a ruffled appearance and it is perfect for small baskets and tight spaces.
One plus is that ‘Dallas’ doesn’t shed as much as other Boston ferns.
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Ferns love humidity and appreciate an occasional misting.
It has bright green leaflets striped with gold.
Feed it once a month with awater-soluble fertilizersuch as 20-20-20.
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Never fertilize a fern when the soil is dry, as it can burn the roots.
Try this fern in large containers and oversized hanging baskets for a dramatic show.
When new fronds appear, feed with a one-fourth to one-half-strength, water-soluble fertilizer such as 20-20-20.
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It loves heat and humidity and tolerates the sun if it’s not too hot.
This lush fern grows up to 3 feet tall with a bushy growth habit.
It is hardy in Zones 9-11.
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In cooler climates, place it on your porch during the summer and bring it back indoors for winter.
Indoors, the fern requires bright, indirect light.
Feed once a month with a water-soluble fertilizer such as 20-20-20.
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Cinnamon Fern
These native ferns with lacy fronds grow near streams or bogs in Zone 4-9.
Dark-colored spikes contrast with deeply cut, lacy bright green leaves.
The two contrasting colors easily identify it.
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To mimic their growing conditions in the wild, cinnamon ferns need rich soilamended with compost.
The dark green fronds are glossy when mature and reach up to 2 feet in length.
This fern is hardy in Zone 6-10 and semi-evergreen in colder climates.
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Japanese Holly Fern
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This fern has beautiful sawtooth foliage in glossy, deep green.
The fern does not tolerate standing water and needs to be kept out of the afternoon sun.
It is hardy in Zone 7-10.
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Ferns that are not winter-hardy in your zone need to be overwintered indoors.
Water sparingly, just enough to keep the soil slightly moist.
Lobed leaves have a leathery texture with rows of bumps or warts that run along the midrib.
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They are only winter-hardy in Zone 10-11.
While they tolerate partial sun, they need to be kept out of the afternoon sun.
These hardy native ferns (Zone 3-7) spread rapidly in the right growing conditions because the roots expand.
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They add color to a shady garden where they thrive.
Give them rich, moist soil.
This quick-growing fern has a short season, usually beginning after the final frost in spring.
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Autumn Fern
Autumn ferns are suitable for small spaces because they spread slower than others.
The fronds emerge as a bright copper or orange-red, giving afall-inspired paletteand attributing to its name.
In addition to growing in baskets or containers, use autumn fern as ground cover in shady gardens.
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Plant in a shady, moist area in loose, fertile soil.
It is hardy in Zones 9-11.
The fern has fronds that grow upright and sag, making it a good choice for hanging baskets.
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The distinctive, flat leaves that resemble deer antlers reach up to 3 feet in length.
The fern prospers in humid conditions and bright, indirect light.
The most common staghorn fern species isP.
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Foxtail Fern
With its feathery fronds, this evergreen fern (Zones 9-11) surely stands out.
In spring and summer, it has inconspicuous small white flowers that turn into bright red berries.
Give it filtered shade or full shade, which produces lighter green fronds.
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These ferns are easy to care for and don’t need frequent watering.
In some areas, including in Florida, it is considered invasive.
The fern is especially attractive in a hanging basket because it grows outward before trailing down.
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In nature, these ferns grow in between rocks in warm and steamy conditions.
Their lace-like fronds need consistent watering and quickly burn in too much direct sun.
If you move the fern outdoors for the summer, ensure to shield it from the hot afternoon sun.
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Tassel Fern
These ferns spread outward in vase-shaped clumps up to 2 feet tall and wide.
Native to Asia, the arching shape of the fronds makes these ferns an excellent choice for hanging baskets.
Golden hairs cover new fronds until the silver scales and dark green foliage appear stunningly on mature leaves.
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The tassel fern doesnt tolerate full sun, so place it in an area with full or light shade.
Because it is slow-growing, about 12 inches a year, it is suitable for containers.
The fern is hardy in Zones 4-9.
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Shield the fronds from the harsh afternoon sun.
Itsresistance to deerand rabbits makes it a good choice for a porch fern.
Champions Wood Fern
This evergreen fern is native to central and eastern Asia.
Long, lance-shaped, bright green fronds with rippled edges grow from the center rosette.
In their native rainforest habitat, these epiphytic plants grow on other plants.
They thrive in high humidity and consistently moist soil that is not soggy.
Bird’s nest fern is only winter-hardy in Zones 10-11.
Bring the fern indoors when the temperature dips below 50F and place it in bright, indirect light.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ferns areperennial plantsthat vary in hardiness.
If your climate is suitable for growing the particular variety outdoors year-round, it will come back every year.
Yes, but the timing depends on whether it is a deciduous or evergreen fern.
Cut back deciduous ferns once the growing season is over and the foliage turns brown or wilts.
Wait until late winter or early spring to cut back evergreen ferns.
Only remove dead or damaged fronds before new growth emerges.
Always remove fronds near the base.
With proper light, humidity, and water, ferns can grow indoors.
Place them in bright, indirect light near a north- or east-facing window.
Avoid too much sun which can scald the leaves.
In a sunny south- or west-facing window, use a sheer curtain to provide filtered light.
