Home Depot? Local nurseries? Harvesting from the wilderness? Buying spores online?

I recently had a big crush on ferns, specially staghorn ferns. On top of that I'm a cheapskate so don't know what to do!

I live in Alabama, so I bought most of my ferns from Fern Ridge Farms
6254 AL-273, Cedar Bluff, AL 35959.
http://www.fernridgefarms.com/...
Some I got from the wild, some from Lowe's etc.

I bought the majority of mine. I have a few that I moved from other parts of the yard to keep lawn mowers & weed eaters from them. I bought the ones I did because mostly I wanted specific varieties (I only have a a couple but I love desert ferns - just the idea of ferns growing in the desert seems to be an oxymoron). Many desert ferns are endangered so even if I lived where they grow I could not collect them. ALL of the ferns I have right now are hardy in my zone 7 climate. Though I like Staghorn, Elkhorn, and the various Rabbit Foot types, I have not been able to keep any of those alive more than a few years.

I also like spikemoss. They often look like miniature ferns; some are tolerant of more sun than many ferns. I have to admit they are challenge for me; I have lost about half of them, but have learned from the experiences.

Rez,

I bought mine from HD, Lowe's and on-line. We don't have any 'wild' around here.

Currently, we have:
- Autumn Brilliance
- Christmas
- Cinnamon
- Dixie Wood
- Lady Fern
- Lady in Red
- Leather Wood
- Maidnehair
- Ostrich
- Royal
- Sensitive

I'm trying to get my hands on Bracken (Pterydium aquilinum)

We have 7 or 8 fern 'beds' going now, along with hundreds of hosta.

This is where I bought my ferns:
Fern Ridge Farms
Plant Nursery
Cedar Bluff, AL
(256) 779-6351

I checked out the Fern Ridge site. They have some nice fern, but it doesn't look like they do mail order as there are no prices and no way to order. Being in Maryland, Alabama would bit a wee bit too far to pick up some fern.

I would email or phone her if interested in pricing and shipping. I think she told me she does ship plants on special request, the pricing when I bought mine was very reasonable. That was several years ago, and the only fern I bought that is not still alive was one I tried to grow in a pot "Blue Fern".

I picked up at local nursery, online, friends gardens, trades online, Lowes.

This is what I have so far......
- Autumn Brilliance
- Christmas
- Cinnamon
- Lady Fern
- Athyrium niponicum aka japanese painted fern
burgundy lace
regal red
Godzilla Painted Fern
niponicum pictum - painted
- Ostrich
- Royal
- Sensitive

I just purchased Godzilla Painted Fern at Lowes today in a gallon pot for 6.98. I was doing a happy dance when I saw it I had been looking at it on line and did not want to give them ten dollars plus shipping for what I knew was going to be a little 3" pot of little root thing.

I get mine from multiple sources...

Online:
I use K. van Bourgondien quite a bit. I get Cinnamon, Tennessee Ostrich, Christmas, Lady, Maidenhair and Sensitive from them. I always wait for a sale. But, even at $15.00 for 5 Cinnamon, it's still cheaper that some nurseries.

Lowe's:
I'll usually get a bunch of the pre-packed dormant ones in early spring. I also watch the clearance racks. Usually, I can count on getting some for $1-$3 on clearance.

Walmart:
Pre-packed dormant in early spring

Nurseries:
I generally don't get much fern from nurseries due to the cost.

NGA-MAG Plant Swaps:
We here in the the Mid-Atlantic Gardeners group have twice-yearly in-person plant swaps. I usually get a few fern each time.

Swaps with friends:
Occasionally, I know someone that really has an overabundance and just want to get rid of some. (never turn down free fern!) I'm hoping to pick up some bracken fern next month.

Hi Rick, where in store do they keep the prepacked dormant ones? I've never seen them.

They're usually in the front of the store with all of the spring bulbs. If I recall, they're available starting in February-March time frame. They usually have cinnamon and one or two others.

It's the same with Wal-Mart. When they bring out the spring bulbs, the fern are usually mixed in amongst them.

I have not had good luck with survival digging the Ostrich fern in Late Spring but if someone wants some I can probably dig you some this Fall or Spring is the best time..

I have to remove some of them because they are taking over my shade garden. Message me and I will put you on the list if you let me know now or if you remember let me know about March April next year,.

I like ostrich ferns!

I have sword fern and deer fern in my back woods that I move up to the outer edges of my cultivated shady beds. Makes for a nice transition. And free! Also bracken fern just kind of pop up where they want and I usually let them choose their own spots.

Rez said:I like ostrich ferns!

Well if you remind me in the Fall or in the beginning of Spring I can send you some.

I just poached a nice sword fern from my back woods. Potted it up in my bathroom.

Oh geeze Deb! When I saw that you 'poached a fern', I started thinking that that would be a different kind of lunch. I then the other meaning of poached came to mind!