Ferns are diverse but bloomless foliar perennials that are much appreciated for their lush foliage, intricate textures and distinctive forms. Some live in water; others grow on trees. In 400 million years, these versatile plants have developed some surprising variations.

Understanding the Context

By Margaret Roach If you want suggestions of ferns to use as ground ... Named for the unique colour of its blue-green wavey leaves, the Blue Star ferns – also known by the Latin Phlebodium aureum – is a beautiful addition to a bathroom or kitchen, thriving in indirect ... Few plants say the tropics more effectively than do tree ferns, yet thankfully many species of tree ferns are fairly cold hardy, enabling gardeners throughout the world to use these for decoration ... Do you have limited space AND shade issues?

Key Insights

Then why not try some of the dwarf ferns! Suitable for rockeries, rock walls, alpine troughs and as groundcovers, there are quite a number of small (unde... Fern Factory Ferns Address: 1201 N. Andrea Lane Anaheim, California 92807 (United States) Phone: (714) 221-4388 Fax: (714) 237-0991 » Visit their website » E-Mail them Leafless and rootless? Yes, the little plants known as Whisk Ferns, or more accurately, Psilotum, really do not have any roots or leaves.

Final Thoughts

They grow little green branched stems from small rhizomes that, when dug up, have no roots (see photo below, left). From my days of college botany, I remember being taught that these plants were "primitive" and among the remnant ancestors of vascular plants ... This article acts as introduction to these exotic and incredibly ornamental tropical ferns, commonly known as Staghorn Ferns. Some suggestions on cultivation and the various species will be discuss...