A guide for choosing and planting ferns | Garden Design and Inspiration | Gardening Australia

Jane celebrates the diversity of Australian ferns, a diverse and adaptable group of plants with more than 400 species native to Australia. Subscribe 🔔 ab.co/GA-subscribe
Ferns are ancient, one of the first plants to emerge on land hundreds of millions of years ago. They don’t flower, reproducing only by spore, so they are reliant on lots of water being around. However, they aren’t all as fussy as we might imagine. Jane takes us through some of the unique and hardy members of this group.
Tree ferns are some of the more recognisable members of the fern family, and you can identify them by their trunk. All legally harvested tree ferns sold in retail nurseries will be issued with a serial number from a government authority.
Rough tree fern- easier to grow than their soft counterpart, adaptable to a wide range of soils and climates. They are great in a pot, and can tolerate direct sun as long as their roots are kept wet. They have ‘rough’ trunk that is covered with the bases of old fronds.
Soft tree fern - is smooth to the touch due to the hair-like roots growing on the outside of the trunk. They need a bit more care, requiring to be kept very moist with lots of mulch, and in part shade.
Indoors is a great place to grow many ferns that require more delicate lighting conditions. They need good light, but not direct sunlight; and be sure to keep them away from central heating or air conditioners, as they can burn the plants easily.
Necklace fern - lovely little leaves that look great in a hanging basket
Fishbone water-fern - very tough with geometric leaves
Bird’s nest fern - this is Jane’s favourite because of its beautiful lime green leaves
Maidenhair fern - you might not have realised this indoor fav is an Aussie native. While it grows naturally in thick mounds in the bush, it may have given you a bit of grief in your own home, as it is notorious for browning up overnight. To prevent this occurring, keep the plant in a plastic nursery pot, stored in a larger decorative pot or saucer that holds a little bit of water at the base, so it is always kept moist. Don’t be afraid to prune it hard when it dies back, it will grow new shoots from the base.
Epiphytes - Many ferns have evolved to grow as epiphytes, an adaptation to grow on other things than the ground for physical support. Instead of getting nutrients from soil, they find nourishment from small pockets of animal droppings and leaf litter that get caught in their crevices.
Staghorn fern - magnificent fern with a protective shield and drooping fronds that will get larger over time.
Elkhorn fern - slightly smaller than the staghorn, but can be grown in very similar conditions
Tough ferns have learned to store water in their roots underground, and will fare better in harsher conditions or with less watering.
Prickly rasp fern - tough foliage but new fronds are red, with pink tips on older leaves.
Mother shield fern - an elegant but hardy choice.
Hen and Chicken fern - can grow little plantlets on the end of its fronds that will grow into new plants when they touch the ground.
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[@swimminlane3566]

"Sure as eggs" your a legend Jane brilliant.

[@stimpyfeelinit]

that soft tree fern looks lovely

[@moomoon1410]

Ferns are so beautiful. My favourite.

[@inabates8919]

Always have a soft spot for a fern. Thank you

[@naturalflow157]

My dear soul, thank you so much for this video. Life has been quite a bit challenging and your video has been a true help to just reconsider what I am doing and where all the doubt is coming from. But watching you, being so passionate and putting your heart into this, is a good reminder of what shall I do. Thank you, and I wish you all the best :}

[@der_municycler]

this video is paradise for me fern nerd

[@GardeningAustralia]

For us too!

[@Aculturalsavagefromaustralia]

This tower is such a non-intrusive beauty. Love it.

[@liquidbrickle]

Loving the native content!!!

[@GardeningAustralia]

More to come!

[@lilyceriola]

I love this series! I really love ferns!!!❤️

[@RekimNZ]

Excellent video - Thanks ! - edit... Forgot to say ...... Thanks Jane :)

[@GardeningAustralia]

You’re welcome 😊

[@wildlifegardenssydney7492]

After pulling out a bunch of weeds including Asparagus Fern and Boston Ferns on the edge of a sandstone plateau….the spot naturally grew lots of maidenhair ferns all by themselves. After that delight….I will continue to pull weeds and see what native ferns pop up. I would be interested to know the names of all the natives in this fern nursery. It looks lovely. In Sydney’s Northern Beaches Stony Range Regional Botanical Gardens (Dee Why) has extraordinarily beautiful ferns and is an incredible native Botanical Garden.

[@jalbu8330]

Beautiful I love ferns. 😍

[@claire2470]

LIKE and LOVE FERNS😍. . . (Got 21 kinds of different ferns and my super favorite is our tree fern it keeps the environment cool and exotic. . .we used to have 3 fern trees but the 2 died, planning to have it replaced but is difficult to find one coz it is already an endangered plant here in my country. . .wish our one n only big and old tree fern will give babiessssss🤗)

[@sarah3796]

I love ferns. I must check this shop out

[@dreamsalamander]

In Sarawak we sometimes eat the young fronds of the birds nest fern

[@jemmashome]

So calming somehow!! I have one tiny succulent to accompany me in my home 😆

[@bin_chicken80]

Interesting video. Thanks :)

[@akmalsam]

thank you very much, i love ferns than other plants

[@GardeningAustralia]

We do too! Thanks for watching :)

[@ninasuculentasymas]

Hello from Puerto Rico!!! First timer on your channel and just subscribed!!! My channel is in spanish. We have beautiful ferns here…love them!!! 🙋🏼‍♀️🪴💚

[@happinessinleaf]

Watching

[@grsdjjggfss3373]

❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@chongseitmooi2593]

Fern is an interesting plants. It's more suited as fencing landscaping or as an stand alonel grown coz it's roots is very invasive if plants on the ground

[@southernrainforest]

Ferns in general grow in the lower/ground layer in a forest, so they need elements above to create the microclimate in which they will flourish.

[@austintrees]

Who knew Ferns were so strange... I thought Red was as Strange as they Got.

[@user-gb6zf9os6c]

Thanks dear what is the work in our life Ineed to know more about

[@rukandagarden6405]

more plant tropis

[@jopadjr]

747th...Thanks

[@MsLouisVee]

Who cares where she’s from? I am here to learn about ferns you, Mor….. geeeez

[@myriammac3097]

Spanish please 🙏🏻

[@lukei6255]

It would be better if the show is presented by a local native Australian person, not an English woman.

[@southernrainforest]

How many generations must an English woman live in Australia, before being considered native?

[@lukei6255]

@@southernrainforest I don't see her integrated with the local native Aboriginal. She is still very English like the colonizers.

[@southernrainforest]

@@lukei6255 how do you know anything about her? Her looks? Sounds racist to me. The local tribe of this area, I have done work with them and they are more interested in raising cattle than yams. Maybe the locals don’t care about ferns and this lady does and that is why she is presenting on ferns. How you can links ferns and colonization is a long bow. Research shows that there could have been 3 waves of Aboriginal migrants, which one is considered the most native? Please answer the question, how many generations must one live in a country before being considered ‘native’?

[@lukei6255]

@@southernrainforest aren't anglo Saxons occupying Australia? Isn't Australia still owned by the English royal. Even your flag is English. She looks and talks and behaves like an English person, not a local Australian person.

[@MsLouisVee]

Racist.