Anybody grow ferns?

[mothhawk]

I've discovered a sudden affection for ferns, plants I've always previously regarded with cordial loathing as bracken look-alikes.

However, wandering around the GC yesterday I came across some really quite attractive specimens, and remembered seeing Monty Don do a fern hanging basket one time. Since my garden is north facing, and therefore pretty much ideal for shade lovers, I splashed some cash and bought four.

I bought Dryopteris filix-mas, Arachnoides aristata variegata, Polystichum polyblepharum and Polystichum setiferum. For now as they are small, I've put them in a hanging basket, and they look quite attractive.

When it gets to May and I want to put fuchsias in the baskets, I'll move them to the garden. I'm aware that only Polystichum setiferum will stay small, but does anyone know if the other three will turn into thugs and try to take over? I don't mind them growing tall, but I don't want them setting off down the garden as if they owned the place

[roitelet]

They will get bigger but will not run off down the garden. If you look at them you will see that they grow from a central point, bracken on the other hand grows from rhizomes and that is why it is invasive.

[KevinM67]

I'm with you on this mothawk.
I've found myself having a newly discovered love of the beauty of ferns.
The grounds of Malahide Castle are essentially a public park here, where my young lad plays football on a Saturday morning.
I love the walk through the forest with the various ferns growing underneath the tall conifers.

Our North facing wall (the left/east facing part) is crying out for some ferns I think.
I did get one from Aldi or Lidl last year, which I kept in a MFB until a couple of weeks ago, this has since been plonked in that area. I've no idea of it's name or growing height/width.
I do know that I want some more.

[More basil]

I love ferns- and have discovered recently that there are so many different types, structures, colours etc.

Some can grow in surprisingly dry conditions. But they need water and a damp environment to reproduce (via spores). So they are unlikely to spread unless your border is rather damp. And even then, they tend to do so in splendidly beautiful well mannered ways. Think of chain of shuttlecock ferns unfurling along a stream in early spring.

[mothhawk]

It's good to hear that ferns are such well-mannered plants.

I may even indulge in a few more then