# Do Ferns Like Sun or Shade?
You'll never see a fern happy planted next to sun-loving daisies; the closest these two plants come is in a florist's bouquet. The vast majority of the fern family needs shade. Not every fern is adverse to limited sunlight, however.
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Scorching
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Fern leaves, or fronds, are usually thin and delicate. Sunlight easily damages this tissue, searing the fragile leaflets with an often-fatal burn. North-facing windows are ideal for most indoor ferns, and many outdoor ferns are hardy enough to tolerate short exposures to morning light.
Moisture
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Fern damage often first appears at the frond's tip. Sunlight heats the soil, evaporating soil-borne moisture. The vast majority of ferns require a constant, even supply of water, and sun-dried soils quickly kill the plant. Boston ferns and maidenhair ferns are especially sensitive to soil moisture. Rabbit's foot fern and brake fern, on the other hand, prefer the soil surface to dry between waterings.
Varieties for Sun
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The eye-catching texture of a fern is not necessarily limited to shade. Southern shield fern (Thelypteris kunthii) will grow in sunny sites and has feathery leaflets. The larger royal fern (Osmunda regalis) tolerates sun and can grow up to 6 feet tall. Both require constant water to survive the harsher conditions.
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