Adiantum pedatum (maidenhair): Z 7-8 N.A.Native This is a deciduous yet dramatic and airy fern for a moist shaded site. The lime green fingered fronds are formed on tall black-purple stems.

Adiantum hispidulum (rough maidenhair): Z 7-8 This is a fern from New Zealand and Australia with fingered fronds. The new fronds are a red-orange color slowly fading to a rich green. The stems are dark and hairy.Prefers a moist woodland setting. This is a semi decidious fern.

Adiantum venustum (Himalayan maidenhair): Z 7-8 This is a hard to find creeping maidenhair fern that is evergreen. The delecate fronds stay quite low to the ground eventually creating a ground cover. The new fronds start out a pink and fade to light green. Plant in a moist and shady site.

Adiantum capillus-veneris (Southern maidenhair): Z 7-8 N.A.Native This is also a shorter creeping maidenhair that is deciduous.

Asplenium trichomanes (Maidenhair spleenwort):

Z 7-8 N.A.Native This is a small rock fern that thrives in moist conditions. The fronds are four to seven inches and are about one half inch wide.

Arachniodes simplicior var. variegata: Z 6-9. This is an easy Japanese and Chinese fern up to three feet long. The fronds are leathery, triangular, dark green with light green markings. These will form compact colonies in rich moist well drained soil.

Adiantum reniforme: Z 8 This is native to Africa, Canary Islands, New Zealand and Asia. This is a small fern with simple fronds each with a single thick leathery blade resembling a Ginko leaf. The stalk is hairy. Plant in open, well drained, moist, organic rich soil. This benefits from an addition of lime.

Athyrium otophorum (Eared lady fern): Z 7-8 The new fronds are almost white with purple-red stipes and rachises. The old fronds are a contrasting darker green gray.

Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum' (Japanese Painted fern): Z 7-8 This is a very colorful rambling fern. Each frond is purple with dark green and shades of white, gray and blue. Prefers full shade with plenty of moisture.

Athyrium filix-femina 'Frizelliae': Z 7-8 This is a congested lady fern which resembles many asplenium. This dates back to the British fern craze of the Victorian era.

Athyrium cyclosorum (Western Lady fern): Z 7-8 N.A.Native This is a huge native lady fern that ranges between two and eight feet. When fully mature the lime green fronds arch. This is a deciduous fern that enjoys moist conditions and is found in very swampy conditions in the wild, however, it will thrive without having its roots constantly wet. These will form large tree fern like trunks of arial roots.

As a general rule ferns prefer deep to light shade. There are a few exceptions like cheilanthes. The ferns that prefer full sun grow in cool rock crevices or with moss in the wild and are able to withstand drought. Other ferns thrive in full sun, if their roots are constantly moist to wet. Those tend to be ferns found in wetland or seepage sites in the wild. Ferns like rich fertile soil with lots of organic matter, that is moist and well drained. Ferns like humidity created by evaporating soil moisture. Most ferns dislike wind, no only damages fronds but dries out the soil and air. Using the general requirements as a guide ferns are very adaptable to the garden and are quite easy to cultivate. Plant hardiness zones are based from the USDA zonal system.

Athyrium alpestre: Z 7-8 N.A.Native This is a rare but dramatic alpine lady fern. The fronds are strongly textured and give a lacy appearance. These are found in sunny rock seepage sites in high elevations so it is a perfect rock garden plant for sunny but moist situations. The fronds will only reach a little over one foot tall and wide.

Arachniodes sp.China: Z 6-9 China. This is an intriguing Arachniodes that resembles A. standishii so it is (possibly A. maximowiczii or A. miqueliana). The new growth is bronze fading to a light green. These tend to be semi-evergreen.