(Rock and Roll Astilbe)

This astilbe, ‘Rock and Roll’ is a herbaceous perennial grown for its tolerance of shade, dependable bloom, spikes of flowers, and dark, dense ferny foliage. The spikes have a branching habit, a bit like a Christmas tree. Tiny, closely packed flowers clothe the spikes, transforming them into soft, billowing plumes. One plant may produce several, making a cloud of bloom above the leaves. A member of the Music Series, ‘Rock and Roll’ blooms with white flowers in mid through late summer. Deadhead the...

(Ganges Primrose)

Successful in many warm soils, the spreading foliage of Ganges primrose is a lovely backdrop for the white or yellow blossoms that flush purple with maturity. An exact nativity is uncertain, but believed to hail from eastern Africa, and India eastward into Malaysia. This is a tender perennial or subshrub that sprawls out and is reminiscent of a large petunia plant. It is usually regarded as a pretty weed in the tropics (in lawns), often invasive along the beaches.

The medium green leaves are...

(Ganges Primrose, Variegated Primrose)

Successful in many warm soils, the spreading green and yellow foliage of variegated Ganges primrose is a lovely backdrop for the white or yellow blossoms that flush purple with maturity. An exact nativity is uncertain, but believed to hail from eastern Africa, and India eastward into Malaysia. This is a tender perennial or subshrub that sprawls out and is reminiscent of a large petunia plant. It is usually regarded as a pretty weed in the tropics (in lawns), often invasive along the beaches.

The...

(Ghost Ladyfern, Ladyfern)

Ghost ladyfern is a hybrid cross between the Japanese painted fern and American ladyfern. It forms upright to arching clumps of broad silvery-gray to frosted apple-green fronds with dark purple midribs. This vigorous, deciduous fern grows a little taller than both its parents.

Overall, it prefers partial to full shade, but a little sun will bring out its silver color. Like most ferns, it thrives in fertile, evenly moist soil but can tolerate moderately dry soil once established. Plant in woodland...

(Ladyfern)

Ladyfern is a deciduous, terrestrial fern occurring throughout temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Vigorous, elegant and easy to grow, it was a great favorite in gardens of the Victorian era. Its tall, light green, upright to arching fronds are lined with narrow, pointed, finely divided leaflets which have a soft, airy appearance. The stems are typically green, but are sometimes tinted with red-brown. Numerous cultivars of this highly variable fern have been developed, including those...

(Crested Ladyfern, Dre's Dagger Ladyfern)

The tall, arching fronds of this eye-catching ladyfern cultivar are lined with long, very narrow, finely divided leaflets ending in small, branched crests, which cross over one another to form numerous “X” shapes. Perfect for shaded mixed borders, woodland gardens and containers, ‘Dre’s Dagger’ should planted where its distinctive foliage can be admired up close.

Ladyfern is a deciduous, terrestrial species occurring throughout temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It thrives in full...

(Crested Ladyfern)

The fresh green fronds of this distinctive ladyfern cultivar are lined with thin, finely divided leaflets with crested (branched) ends. Perfect for shaded mixed borders, woodland gardens and containers, ‘Encourage’ is more vigorous than many other crested forms. It should be planted where its delicate, frothy foliage can be admired up close.

Ladyfern is a deciduous, terrestrial species occurring throughout temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It thrives in full to part shade and moist,...

(Ladyfern)

The tall, upright to arching fronds of this unique, strong-growing ladyfern cultivar are lined with narrow, pointed, very finely divided leaflets which cross over one another, forming numerous “X” shapes. Perfect for shaded mixed borders, woodland gardens and containers, ‘Fieldii’ should planted where its unusual foliage can be admired up close.

Ladyfern is a deciduous, terrestrial species occurring throughout temperate regions of the Northern Hemisisphere. It thrives in full to part shade...

(Crested Ladyfern)

The fresh green fronds of this unique ladyfern cultivar feature crested (branching) ends, and are lined with small, serrated, fan-shaped leaflets. Perfect for shaded mixed borders, woodland gardens and containers, ‘Fieldii’ should planted where its unusual foliage can be admired up close. It differs from the separate cultivars ‘Frizelliae’, which does not have crested frond ends, and ‘Cristatum’, a form with elongated, crested leaflets.

Ladyfern is a deciduous, terrestrial species occurring...

(Ladyfern)

This very old ladyfern cultivar dates back to the 1863, and was originally spotted growing in a damp meadow near the town of Axminster in southwest England. It is beloved for its tall, feathery, arching fronds lined with long, pointed, very finely cut leaflets. The fresh green plumes are particularly bright in spring, adding light to dark, shaded areas of the garden.

Elegant and easy to grow, this fern looks terrific combined with the bold, horizontal foliage of hostas and other perennials...