[PHOTO CREDIT: CWF]
Canada is home to many beautiful ferns. Since I began paying attention to them, I have come to appreciate the many different textures that ferns offer, apart from the traditional lacey lady’s fern. Royal ferns are large and grand, oak ferns so tiny and delicate, Christmas ferns compact and upright while maidenhair ferns are just plain gorgeous. If you have a partially or fully shaded area where you live, consider growing ferns along with your favourite perennials and annuals. They will give cover to wildlife and texture to your garden. To find out what ferns are native to your part of Canada, visit a local nature trail, talk to your local naturalist club or check out our online Native Plant Encyclopedia.
Sarah Coulber
Sarah is an Education Specialist at the Canadian Wildlife Federation. She writes about the benefits and ‘how-to’s’ of wildlife-friendly gardening, coordinates content for the Gardening for Wildlife web section, co-manages the wildlife-friendly demonstration gardens at CWF headquarters and assists Canadians looking to achieve similar results with their own properties.
