Hi All,

I incorporated some ferns in some of my summer mixed container plantings last year and really enjoyed the effect. I would like to try even more this year.

So, does anyone have any favorite fern combos or have recommendations of ferns that perform particularly well in this environment?

I got a couple Blue Star Ferns (Phlebodium aureum) off the clearance rack at Lowe's. Will this species play nice with others in a mixed planting?

Here is Boston Fern 'Rita's Gold' & friends.



Thanks Much!
Danita

Danita, that's a great idea. I love your combo from last year - the lime green and purple are striking! I just bought a Blue Star fern myself, at a local plant sale, so I don't know much about it yet, but the blueish-green-silvery leaves are just beautiful. I think @plantladylin either has one or had one, so maybe she can chime in here.

Thanks, Ibis! Perhaps Lin will have some wisdom for both of us regarding the Blue Star Ferns. I'd been admiring them for some time so when I saw them on clearance for a dollar, it didn't take long for them to jump into my cart!

Danita,
I'm zone 7 and make many containers with ferns. I took some pictures of some of my containers. They don't look the best now as spring is just starting. Just have to watch the size a fern gets at maturity. I use a variety of perennials in my containers to keep the cost of annuals down.

Danita,

We have a 14"w x 5"d round pot on an old bird bath pillar in the front. Usually, I put just geraniums in it. This year, I put a young ostrich fern in the middle and bright red geraniums around the edge. The fern provided some nice colr, size and texture effects. )I'd post a picture, but the excessive heat took it's toll on the fern. )

Depending on the size of the container, I would use young fern so that you can enjoy the arrangement for a couple of years before the fern takes over.

Julia, those look great. Nice autumnal colors!

Rick, your combo sounds lovely! Sorry that the fern fizzled. It's been pretty hot this year.

@RickM, That is the fern I use in my pots for drama. You are right I can only leave them in for Three years. This year is its last will remove it this Fall.

With my fern I use bulbs, Spring bulb, and for summer Asiatic, Oriental, to cover the soil and spiller I use sedum, and for all summer color I plant a petunia

Spring




Summer