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Ferns are beautiful foliage plants for shady areas in the garden or as an easy-care houseplant. You can find out which location is particularly suitable for ferns in our guide.

In a nutshell

  • mostly semi-shady to shady location ideal for fern
  • Soil fresh to moist, rich in humus and rather acidic
  • Plant forest ferns in the shade of trees or buildings
  • some ferns also suitable for sunnier and drier locations
  • Cultivate indoor ferns as coolly as possible and with high humidity

Location for fern in the garden

In nature, ferns grow in forests under tall trees and preferably in rather acidic, humus-rich and moist soil. For garden ferns, this means they need a similar location to thrive. But be careful: Not every fern feels comfortable in such a place, some species have their own, slightly different needs. Basically, experts distinguish between two groups of species with different life forms and growth forms, for which different location specifications apply.

Stag's tongue fern (Asplenium scolopendrium) in the garden

rosette ferns

When most people think of ferns, they think of lush, multipinnate, funnel-shaped fronds. These are the so-called rosette ferns due to their characteristic growth form, which are sometimes also referred to as forest ferns. They then grow in shady and cool locations in forests and on fresh to moist, humus-rich soil. These fern species also need a suitable location in the garden:

  • under trees or higher shrubs
  • alternatively at the edge of the wood, in front of walls
  • on humus-rich, ripe and rather acidic soil
  • well suited for gardens with conifers
  • not suitable for full sun
  • no direct sunlight if possible

Planting in newly created gardens, for example in the course of building a home, is problematic. The problem here is that trees that have just been planted are still too small to cast sufficient shadow and the soil is not yet mature enough. This means that on the one hand the soil is still solid and not loose enough due to the use of construction machinery, and on the other hand that a healthy, humus-rich soil has to develop over time. This takes a few years, during which the trees and bushes can also grow.

Types of Rosette Fern

Ferns in this group include these popular garden ferns:

  • rib fern (Blechnum spicant): up to 75 centimeters high, needs high soil and air humidity
  • ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris): also funnel fern, up to 130 centimeters high, ideal for planting along the edge of a pond
  • royal fern (Osmunda regalis): up to two meters high, ideal for nutrient-poor, clayey and slightly waterlogged soils
  • Wood Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina): up to 90 centimeters high, feels at home under tall trees
  • goldscale fern (Dryopteris affinis): for half-shady to shady locations, for fresh to moist soil
  • Flat filigree fern (Polystichum setiferum 'Herrenhausen'): flat habit, well suited as ground cover for humus-rich, moist soil in partially shaded locations, adaptable
  • jewelry fern (Athyrium niponicum): also Japanese rainbow fern, for fresh to moist locations, adaptable and robust
  • red veil fern (Dryopteris erythrosora var. prolifica): for humus-rich soils under tall trees
  • Broadtail Thorn Fern (Dryopteris dilatata): needs very humus-rich and nutrient-rich soil
Rib fern (Blechnum spicant), royal fern (Osmunda regalis), wood lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina), golden squama fern (Dryopteris affinis) (from left to right) & ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris)

An exception to the rule is the stag's tongue fern (Asplenium scolopendrium), which grows naturally in mountain forests and therefore needs poor, calcareous and rocky soil. The species grows up to 40 centimeters high and, in contrast to other species, has leathery and smooth leaves.

Tip: The native stag's tongue fern also stands out from other ferns in other respects: In contrast to many others, this fern tolerates locations with deep shadows and gets by with very little light.

Rosette ferns with special site requirements

The so-called wall ferns also belong to the rosette ferns, but they have different location requirements than the representatives already mentioned. These species grow in nature or in rocks, which is why you can cultivate them in the garden, for example on dry stone walls or in the rock garden. But be careful: many of these ferns have very specific soil requirements or only grow on certain types of rock.

  • Brown Spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes): suitable for half-shady stone plants, wall joints or tree stumps, for pots or troughs, needs humus-rich, moist soil
  • spleen fern (Cetreach officinarum): can be settled on dry natural stone walls, tolerates heat
  • Small Shield Fern (Polystichum setiferum 'Congestum'): can also stand in a sunny location if the soil is sufficiently moist
Brown spleen fern (Asplenium trichomanes), spleen fern (Cetreach officinarum) & small shield fern (Polystichum setiferum 'Congestum') (from left to right)

Tip: If you don't have tall trees in the garden, many forest ferns can also stand in the shadows of buildings or walls. The prerequisite, however, is that the requirements for the soil conditions are met.

creeping ferns

In addition to the forest ferns, there is a second group of species that prefer to grow in open locations. You can recognize these ferns by their creeping rhizome, which allows them to spread even on stony and dry soil - these substrates are not really suitable for the spores. In addition, the fronds of these ferns do not grow together in rosettes, but grow individually along the branched rhizome. Dense, flat colonies form over time, which is why creeping ferns are not suitable for small gardens or their growth must be restricted. The species are very suitable as ground cover.

As a location for ferns of this species group, different locations are possible:

  • Polypody (Polypodium vulgare): for lime-free, sandy soils or rock crevices, tolerates drought
  • Himalayan Venus Hair (Adiantum venustum): sunny and semi-shady locations with fresh soil, cool
  • Ruprechtsfarn (Gymnocarpium robertianum): for calcareous, rocky soils and partially shaded to shaded locations
  • swamp lobe fern (Thelypteris palustris): for very wet soils, ideal for planting around ponds and streams
  • bracken (Pteridium aquilinum): for gritty to sandy, humus-rich soils in partially shaded to shaded locations
  • lip fern (Cheilanthes lanosa): for dry and well-drained soils in sunny to partially shaded locations
  • oak fern (Gymnocarpium dryopteris 'Plumosum'): for partially shaded locations with fresh soil under tall trees
Polypodium vulgare, Himalayan venus hair (Adiantum venustum), lip fern (Cheilanthes lanosa), oak fern (Gymnocarpium dryopteris 'Plumosum') (from left to right) & bracken (Pteridium aquilinum)

Tip: Before you buy, be sure to check which soil and location the manufacturer recommends for ferns. Then there won't be any nasty surprises.

Location for fern as a houseplant

Ferns cultivated as houseplants also need a location without direct sunlight, which is why a windowsill facing north is very suitable. However, the space in the room should not be too dark either: a sunny or semi-shady location is ideal, as it best reflects the natural conditions. Place the fern on a substrate or cultivate it hanging from the ceiling as a hanging plant. However, temperature and humidity are much more important for indoor ferns than the amount of light. In order for the plants to feel comfortable, it must not be too warm. Between 15 and 20 °C during the day is ideal for most species. Ferns also need high humidity, which is why you should spray the plants with lime-free water every day.

Stag's tongue fern (Asplenium scolopendrium) in a pot

Tip: Are your fern leaves turning yellow? Then the plant is most likely too sunny and should be placed in a shady place.

frequently asked Questions

Why does the fern get brown leaves?

Brown leaves on ferns can have a variety of causes. Often it is completely normal, because many garden ferns are only deciduous, which is why their leaves turn brown. However, they sprout again in the spring. In the case of room ferns, however, the brown coloring is usually due to the air being too dry. The only thing that helps is to keep the humidity high by taking appropriate measures (e.g. spraying the plant).

In which room does the room fern feel most comfortable?

Even if the indoor fern looks pretty: the living room, which is flooded with light and heated in winter, is not the right place for it. It is better to place the plant in the cool and mostly shady bedroom or in the bathroom. The plant feels much more comfortable in the bathroom due to the significantly higher humidity, but the air in the living room is usually too dry for it.

Which ferns are suitable as houseplants?

There is a wide range of beautiful ferns for indoor culture. Particularly recommended are the attractive and easy-care spleen ferns, such as the popular bird's nest fern (Asplenium parvati), the robust Asplenium nidus with the broad leaves or the pretty Asplenium antiquum 'Osaka' with the jagged leaves. Antler ferns (Platycerium) with the characteristically shaped fronds or finely feathered sword ferns (Nephrolepis) are also very popular. A special rarity is the Tasmanian tree fern (Dicksonia Antartica).

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Garden plants