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      The foliage of Pteris cretica consists of delicate evergreen ribbons.

       There are hundreds of different ferns generally offered for sale, but this chapter concentrates on the few that could be described as the most architectural, either because of their size and shape or because they are evergreen. All ferns have a certain presence and charm, but those giving year-round colour obviously have more benefit in the garden.

      There are several categories of evergreen fern discussed in these pages. There are Tree Ferns such as Dicksonia antarctica and Dicksonia squarrosa, which have such a stately and imposing shape that they could easily be planted as single special specimens in any garden. Then there are the smaller ferns such as Pteris cretica and Blechnum spicant, which look especially effective in large numbers. There are also large, low-growing ferns such as Blechnum chilense and Polystichum munitum, which look fine planted singly in smaller gardens but would look very impressive in groups if you happen to have the luxury of larger grounds.

      Ferns enjoy moist, shady conditions in corners of the garden where there is little wind and high humidity. They love being on sloping ground, where the water can drain away immediately without collecting around the roots. Although they need plenty of moisture, boggy places are not suitable.

      Ferns are easy to maintain. They need little extra food, and pests and diseases are rare if the cultivation notes are followed. This is just as well because the foliage of ferns is often too delicate to cope with being sprayed with chemicals. If anything is found nibbling on ferns, it is better to remove the problem manually, as insecticides often cause more damage than the bugs.

      A whole new language has been constructed around ferns, and some of the terms deserve explanation. The leaves are referred to as fronds. The new season’s growth is tightly coiled up before gradually straightening out as it matures, and its curly stage is rather imaginatively referred to as a crozier (think of the large metal crooks, or staffs, brandished by bishops when they are in full regalia). Ferns don’t have flowers or seeds or seed pods. They are propagated from spores, which is powdery dust contained in little sacs called sori. There are also fern societies to join if you’re really keen, and these are referred to as pteridological societies. Unfortunately, I get the word pteridological mixed up with pterodactyl, which conjures up all sorts of mental images of the people attending their annual meetings.

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      Dicksonia antarctica adds a loud presence to any fernery.

      Some fern collectors take their hobby as seriously as stamp collectors, delighting in obtaining as many different types of fern as possible. This is fine for a botanic collection, but no use at all for the amateur gardener or landscapes Ferns look so much better if planted out in larger numbers. The effect is far more dramatic if ten of the same fern are planted together, rather than one each of ten different species.

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      Polystichum munitum is tough enough for the coldest of gardens.

       Most ferns prefer to be planted in areas of the garden where many other plants refuse to grow, which makes them useful as well as desirable.

      This group of plants adores soil containing lots of peat. The light texture suits their root systems admirably. With the natural sources of peat being stripped away, it seems irresponsible recommending such material. But, having tried many peat substitutes, there is nothing as good as the real stuff – not yet, anyway. Hopefully, this is something the compost industry is working towards. It would be wonderful to find something that is as cheap and pleasant to use, produces excellent results and doesn’t have to be shipped from halfway around the globe using fuel-hungry means of transport.

      The propagation of ferns is a tricky subject. Some ferns such as Asplenium scolopendrium conveniently form clumps as they mature. These can usually be divided up to obtain extra plants. Others such as Woodwardia radicans form baby ferns on the upper surface of mature fronds. These fronds can be pegged down over compost until the babies have formed their own root system. They can

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