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Ferns Growing in Sunny Places

Ferns growing in sunny places are the exception to the rule, because most ferns prefer full to partial shade. These ancient perennials and evergreens date back more than 300 million years and typically require moist soil, rich in organic matter. To grow ferns in clay soil or sandy soil, alter the drainage by turning in 2 inches of organic material, such as composted pine bark, in the designated area. Working in 2 inches of crushed granite further improves clay soil.

  1. Tolerant of Full Sun

    • Tassel fern (Polystichum rigens) and hairy lip-fern (Cheilanthes) perform well in full sun to partial shade in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 9. Ideal for rock gardens and containers, tassel fern prefers moist soil. Its medium-green fronds are evergreen in mild winter climates and grow 12 to 16 inches tall. Just the right choice for loose, gritty pebbles, hairy lip-fern prefers average to dry soil. A southwestern U.S. native, it handles hot, dry summers with ease and its gray-green fronds grow 6 to 12 inches tall.

    Tolerant of Full Sun, If Consistently Moist

    • Japanese beech fern (Thelypteris decursive-pinnata) and sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis) are happy to grow in full sun, if the soil is consistently moist; otherwise, they prefer partial to full shade. Outstanding at the front of a border, Japanese beech fern has dark-green fronds 12 to 23 inches tall in USDA zones 4 through 9. As its name implies, sensitive fern goes dormant at the first frost and during summer droughts. An eastern North American native, it features broad, 12- to 35-inch tall, light-green leaflets that add a tropical feel in USDA zones 2 through 9.

    Tolerant of Sun in Cool Summer Regions

    • Purple-stemmed royal fern “Purpurascens” (Osmunda regalis “Purpurascens”) and deer fern (Blechnum spicant) tolerate sunny places in cool summer regions. Expect a large and spectacular plant 35 to 59 inches tall with purple stems when you plant “Purpurascens” in USDA zones 3 through 9. Tolerant of full sun in cool summer regions but also able to grow in partial to full shade, this fern adores moist to wet soil. Deer fern is an evergreen with a preference for moist acidic soil in USDA zones 5 through 9. A Pacific Northwest native, this fern tolerates quite a bit of sun in cool summer climates and grows 18 to 23 inches tall.

    Tolerant of Sun in Warm Climates

    • Soft tree fern (Dicksonia antarctica) and wart fern (Phymatosorus scolopendria) tolerate sun in warm climates. Try soft tree fern in places featuring consistently moist to wet soil with full sun or dappled shade in USDA zones 9 through 10. This enormous fern grows 12 to 18 feet tall and forms a woody trunk. Wart fern grows 12 to 24 inches tall in USDA zones 10 through 11. This tropical fern performs well in full sun to partial shade, if the soil is evenly moist and well-drained, but is considered invasive in some places.

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Growing Perennials
  1. Year-Round Ferns
  2. How to Plant a Fern Border
  3. Growing a Licorice Fern
  4. Tarantula Fern
  5. Growing Temperatures for Ferns
  6. Ferns Growing in a Brick Wall
  7. Growing Escallonia
  8. What Types of Ferns Prefer Acidic Soil?
  9. Leatherleaf Fern Propagation
  10. How to Transplant Ferns
  11. Do Ferns Like Sun or Shade?
  12. What Eats Ferns?

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