Ferns have a distinctive leaf or frond, which is usually divided or compound—“pinnate”—like a feather—or when each section is itself divided, bipinnate or tripinnate. The ferns’ light and airy appearance lends a specific feel to a planting (and often color) reminiscent of their typical habitat, which is usually cool and shaded.

We know that foliage is often more important in a garden vista than blooms are. Flowers are fleeting, but foliage lasts all season long or longer, in the case of the needle and broadleaf evergreens. There are evergreen ferns, as well, but most of the choices for our gardens die to the ground in winter and present their coiled, bishop’s crook crosiers again in spring.

Most ferns come from the shaded, moist woodland areas of the world, but there are drought-tolerant ferns, desert species, and ones that grow in sunny rock crevices (Cheilanthes spp., for example). Hayscented fern (Dennstaedtia punctilobula) also likes sun and can often be found growing in open areas like somewhat dry meadows with sweet fern (Comptonia peregrina), a creeping subshrub, and little blue-stem grass (Schizachyrium scoparium).

In shady spots, we’re happy to have plants with large solid leaves that evolved to gather as much light as possible. Ferns, on the other hand, unfold their feathery fronds to absorb light and provide us with unmatched texture in these protected spots.

There are some 12,000 fern species in the world, and these are among the oldest plants on earth. There are ferns with colorful fronds, like the Japanese painted fern (Athyrium niponicum ‘Pictum’ and other varieties). Some of the hardy ferns for gardens are evergreen, for example, the Polysti-chum spp. like Christmas fern. Other useful garden ferns are Adiantum pedatum (northern maidenhair fern), Athyrium filix-femina (lady fern), D. erythrosora (autumn fern), Onoclea sensibilis (sensitive fern), Osmunda cinnamomea (cinnamon fern), O. claytoniana (interrupted fern), O. regalis (royal fern), and Thelypteris noveboracensis (New York fern).

Some fern allies to grow alongside these old-timers include plants that will provide contrast to their feathery foliage or produce flowers that punctuate the plantings. Worthwhile examples include Rodgersia spp., Trollius spp., Brunnera macrophylla varieties, Omphalodes cappadocica, hosta varieties, Carex spp., Milium effusium ‘Aureum’, Primula sieboldii, Epimedium varieties, and shade-tolerant spring-flowering bulbs.

As delicate as some ferns appear, most are fairly sturdy, and a few might even become an aggressive problem. The North American species Matteuccia struthiopteris (Ostrich fern) has runners—just below the soil surface—that connect plant to plant. Although slow to establish like many ferns, once it gets going, ostrich fern will colonize as much territory as it can, and even choke out weeds. You may want such a species for a difficult site that is too shady for lawn yet still calls out for a blanketing cover, but be wary (or at least knowledgeable) about what you wish for.

There are ferns however, that do not grow on the forest floor. Some are rock dwellers and a few live in deserts. Silvery Cheilanthes lindheimeri is right at home with succulent Agave victoria-reginae.