
OSMUNDA CLAYTONIANA 
HARDY FERNS 
Hardy Ferns are being used in quantity for massed planting, and selections 
can be made to suit almost any location. Many times there are corners about the 
house where the sun does not strike. Such places can be beautified by the use 
of Hardy Ferns. There are a few varieties of hardy native Ferns which will thrive 
in the open sun, yet, for the most part, they will give much better results when 
planted in a shady location. The Ferns we offer, being native, require a period of 
rest and consequently are not suitable for house culture in the winter. 
Soils. Some of the larger-growing Ferns can be grown with extremely good 
results in ordinary garden soil in a shady location, yet, if we intend to imitate 
Nature, it will be necessary to furnish, for many of our Ferns, better conditions 
than are found in the ordinary garden. In planting Ferns it is well to prepare the 
soil by making it very fine, then adding, if practicable, leaf-mold so as to make the 
soil very light and porous. If the planter does not have at his disposal a sloping 
piece of ground and is anxious to have Ferns in his garden, it will be well to raise 
the bed 2 and 3 inches in which they are planted. This will tend to produce the 
drainage conditions necessary. 
In planting the small rock Ferns, almost pure leaf-mold or peat should be used. 
This class of Ferns is, as a rule, found growing in such soils and while they can be 
made to struggle along and in some cases give fairly good results in ordinary 
garden soil, they will do much better if furnished the conditions as above described. 
Uses. Our Hardy Ferns, being so varied in their characteristics, can be adapt- 
ed to a wide variety of purposes. All of them can be used as specimens in the 
Hardy Fern collection; many can be used for edging walks in a shaded rock- 
garden; while others are best suited for massed plantings. 
Time to plant. Hardy Ferns can'be planted in either the spring or fall. If they 
are planted late in the autumn it is well to give them a mulch of leaves. This gives 
them protection from freezing and thawing and it also tends to retain the moisture 
in the soil until the new rootlets have started to grow. 
