Ferns are fantastic plants to grow because of their wide adaptability. They’re thought to be one of the oldest living plants, which means they know a thing or two about how to survive. Quite a few fern species are particularly good at thriving in cold climates. Keep reading to learn more about selecting hardy ferns for zone 5.
Cold Hardy Fern Plants
Growing ferns in zone 5 really doesn’t require any special treatment provided the plants you ultimately choose for the garden are, in fact, zone 5 ferns. This means as long as they’re hardy to the area, the ferns should pretty much thrive on their own, other than the occasional watering in overly dry situations.
Lady fern – Hardy to zone 4, it can reach anywhere from 1 to 4 feet in height. Extremely tough, it survives in a wide range of soils and levels of sun. The Lady in Red variety has striking red stems.
Japanese Painted fern – Extremely hardy all the way down to zone 3, this fern is especially ornamental. Green and gray deciduous fronds grow on red to purple stems.
Hay-scented fern – Hardy to zone 5, it gets its name from the sweet smell it gives of when crushed or brushed against.
Autumn fern – Hardy to zone 5, it emerges in the spring with a striking copper color, earning it its name. Its fronds turn to green in summer, then change to copper again in the fall.
Dixie Wood fern – Hardy to zone 5, it reaches 4 to 5 feet in height with sturdy, bright green fronds.
Evergreen Wood fern – Hardy to zone 4, it has dark green to blue fronds that grow up and out of a single crown.
Ostrich fern – Hardy to zone 4, this fern has tall, 3- to 4-foot fronds that resemble the feathers of which earn the plant its name. It prefers very moist soil.
Christmas fern – Hardy to zone 5, this dark green fern prefers moist, rocky soil and shade. Its name derives from the fact that it tends to remain green year round.
Bladder fern – Hardy to zone 3, the bladder fern reaches 1 to 3 feet in height and prefers rocky, moist soil.