These plants like to be wet and do well in shade. If you plant them in the right place, they will be very low-maintenance in your garden.
In the same way that ferns grow in similar conditions, many woodland plants look great with them, says Master Horticulturist Colin Skelly.
These plants usually bloom in the spring and are perennials or bulbs. They add a floral touch that is followed by the soothing green of fern fronds. ”.
Ferns always come back to the edges of my garden every year; they don’t need any care and spread quickly, which is something to keep in mind, though they are easy to spot and get rid of.
They were already there when we moved in, so I didn’t add them. They usually grow in the shade under shrubs and trees, which makes them a great “space filler” and a good plant for places where other plants might have trouble growing.
When you have ferns in your garden, you might be curious about what other plants would do well there to make a nice display.
Ferns are beautiful, graceful plants that can add texture and dimension to any garden Their lush, green fronds pair nicely with flowers, foliage, and other greenery Ferns grow best in shaded areas and moist soil, so choosing the right companion plants is key. In this detailed guide, we’ll explore the best companion plants for ferns and how to create stunning fern combination plantings.
Why Grow Companion Plants with Ferns
There are several benefits to growing companion plants with ferns
-
Complementary features – Some plants complement ferns’ fine texture with bolder leaves or brightly colored flowers. This contrast creates visual interest.
-
Shared habitat – Many woodland plants thrive in the same shady, moist conditions as ferns. Combining these plants replicates a natural ecosystem.
-
Biodiversity – Planting a variety of species supports more pollinators and wildlife than a single species could alone.
-
Deter pests – Certain plants help deter pests when planted near more susceptible species like ferns.
-
Enhance growth – Some plants improve soil nutrients or provide physical support for neighboring plants.
Best Companion Plants for Ferns
When choosing companion plants, opt for those with similar light, soil, and water requirements to ferns. Here are some excellent options:
Shade-Loving Flowers
- Astilbe
- Bleeding heart
- Columbine
- Hellebore
- Impatiens
- Primrose
- Toad lily
These perennials add pops of color and provide contrasting blooms to accompany the green hues of ferns.
Foliage Plants
- Coral bells
- Hostas
- Japanese painted fern
- Lungwort
- Solomon’s seal
- Sweet woodruff
- Wild ginger
The varied shapes, sizes, and colors of these plants’ leaves create depth and interest alongside graceful ferns.
Bulbs/Groundcovers
- Bluebells
- Crocus
- Foamflower
- Forget-me-not
- Snowdrops
- Trillium
- Violets
These low-growing spring ephemerals thrive under the shelter of ferns and offer an early season display.
Grasses
- Pennsylvania sedge
- Sweet woodruff
- Tufted hair grass
Grassy textures contrast beautifully with large fern fronds. Use clumping varieties that won’t spread.
Vines
- Creeping Jenny
- Sweet autumn clematis
- Wintercreeper
Let these trailing plants scramble through ferns for layered interest and added vertical dimension.
Shrubs/Trees
- Camellias
- Hydrangea (Annabelle)
- Oakleaf hydrangea
- Pieris
- Rhododendrons
Plant ferns around the base of these woody plants to create a lush, woodland feel.
Design Tips for Combining Ferns
Follow these tips to design stellar fern companion plantings:
-
Use ferns as a living groundcover under shrubs or small trees.
-
Allow ferns to mingle and intersperse among complementary perennials and annuals.
-
Edge a pathway with ferns and contrasting plants like hostas.
-
Plant taller astilbes or grasses behind shorter ferns for depth.
-
Let vines wander through clumps of ferns for visual interest.
-
Use groups of 3-7 ferns and companion plants for impact.
-
Repeat plant combinations in different areas of the garden to unify the design.
Caring for Fern Combination Plantings
Match ferns with plants that have similar care needs:
-
Light – Most ferns grow best in part to full shade.
-
Soil – Rich, humus-y, consistently moist soil.
-
Water – 1-2 inches per week. Avoid wet leaves.
-
Fertilizer – Half strength, balanced fertilizer once or twice a year.
-
Maintenance – Remove dead foliage and divide overcrowded plants in spring.
FAQs About Companion Planting with Ferns
What plants should not be paired with ferns?
Avoid pairing ferns with plants that need full sun or very dry soil, like cacti, lavender, rosemary or ornamental grasses. These plants won’t thrive in ideal fern habitat.
Are ferns and azaleas good companion plants?
Yes! Azaleas and rhododendrons are excellent shrub choices for planting with ferns. Both require acidic soil, part shade, and moist conditions.
Can you plant hostas and ferns together?
Definitely. Hostas and ferns make perfect plant partners. Their contrasting leaf shapes and versatility in shade gardens make them natural companions.
What flowers go well with ferns?
Some great flowering companions for ferns include astilbe, columbine, coral bells, impatiens, primrose, and toad lily. Choose woodland perennials with similar habitat needs.
Conclusion
Planting ferns alongside complementary flowers, foliage, groundcovers, and shrubs creates stunning plant combinations. Pay attention to light and soil needs, and experiment with color, texture, and height to design your perfect fern garden scheme. Soon you’ll have a beautiful, low maintenance woodland oasis right at home. What will you plant with your ferns this season?
Spotted Dead Nettle
- BOTANICAL NAME: Lamium maculatum
- COMMON NAME(S): spotted dead nettle
- HARDINESS RATING: H7
- PLANT TYPE: perennial
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer
- SUNLIGHT: part shade / full shade
- EXPOSURE: sheltered
Spotted dead nettles are hardy perennial plants that like to grow under trees in wooded areas.
They have small pink or purple flowers on tall stems and fuzzy leaves in the shape of hearts that look a lot like the nettles that most of us try to stay away from.
This plant, despite its bad reputation, looks great in natural garden displays and does well with other plants that like shade, like ferns.
- BOTANICAL NAME: Hyacinthoides non-scripta
- COMMON NAME(S): bluebell / bluebottle / bell bottle
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- PLANT TYPE: perennial
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring
- SUNLIGHT: part shade
- EXPOSURE: exposure / sheltered
The bluebells are a must-have in any British garden. Their flowers look like blue bells, which is how they got their name.
Another perennial that likes to grow in shade, bluebells are a great plant to grow with ferns because their bright flowers stand out against the green leaves.
These two plants would work brilliantly in a traditional English cottage garden scheme.
- BOTANICAL NAME: Epimedium × perralchicum
- COMMON NAME(S): barrenwort
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- PLANT TYPE: perennial
- FOLIAGE TYPE: evergreen
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring
- SUNLIGHT: part shade / full sun
- EXPOSURE: sheltered
Barrenwort is an unusual herbaceous perennial that produces strange star-like sprays of flowers in spring.
It can grow in full sun, but it likes to be in the shade in a protected area. It doesn’t have specific needs when it comes to growing medium, which makes it a great choice for pairing with ferns.
Bleeding Heart
- BOTANICAL NAME: Lamprocapnos spectabilis
- COMMON NAME(S): bleeding heart
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- PLANT TYPE: perennial
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring / summer
- SUNLIGHT: part shade
- EXPOSURE: sheltered
Lamprocapnos spectabilis, commonly known as the bleeding heart plant, is a hardy, deciduous plant that likes to be in the shade and sometimes has leaves that look a lot like fern leaves.
The most interesting thing about these plants, though, is their flowers, which are small and loveheart-shaped and often have a pink and white tint.
If your growing medium isn’t acidic, this beautiful bushy perennial would make a nice colorful contrast to your ferns. This is something to think about when you plant bleeding hearts in your existing displays.
- BOTANICAL NAME: caladium
- COMMON NAME(S): angel wings
- HARDINESS RATING: H1B
- PLANT TYPE: perennial
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- SUNLIGHT: part shade / full shade
- EXPOSURE: sheltered
Caladiums are lovely plants with pretty leaves. Their big heart-shaped leaves are often speckled with pink, red, and white.
When mixed with ferns, they add an exotic touch. They also look great in a jungle theme or if you just want to add a touch of the wild.
Keep in mind that these plants can’t handle frost, so they won’t be able to survive the winters outside in the UK like ferns can. For the best results, grow them in pots that can be brought inside in the fall.
- BOTANICAL NAME: canna
- COMMON NAME(S): canna
- HARDINESS RATING: H3
- PLANT TYPE: perennial
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer / autumn
- SUNLIGHT: part shade
- EXPOSURE: sheltered
With an H3 hardiness rating, canna is another plant that you will need to watch out for during the winter. This is something to think about when picking out plants to grow with ferns.
“Stuttgart” is a great variety for ferns because it has big leaves that are a mix of cream and green. This plant will look great in any shady spot in your garden.
Even though the plant’s leaves are what make it stand out, in the summer and fall, peach-colored flowers grow from tall stems.
- BOTANICAL NAME: carex
- COMMON NAME(S): sedge
- HARDINESS RATING: H5/H6
- PLANT TYPE: perennial
- FOLIAGE TYPE: evergreen
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer / autumn
- SUNLIGHT: part shade / full sun
- EXPOSURE: sheltered
This evergreen perennial has a grassy appearance and is highly prized for its ornamental value in the garden.
Sedges like a sheltered spot with some shade, so they can be planted next to ferns. They are also great for planting with the other plants on this list.
This plant does best in clay soil, but keep in mind that it won’t grow in dry soil and, like ferns, needs water to live.
- BOTANICAL NAME: Gaultheria cuneata
- COMMON NAME(S): cuneate wintergreen
- HARDINESS RATING: H5
- PLANT TYPE: shrub
- FOLIAGE TYPE: evergreen
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring / summer
- SUNLIGHT: part shade / full shade
- EXPOSURE: exposed / sheltered
It is a dwarf shrub with small, waxy leaves and white flowers in the shape of cups in the spring and summer.
The big, stiff leaves of a fern would look good next to these small leaves, and the flowers would add something special if they were planted together.
This plant does best in shade and is a great choice if you want a companion plant that will look good in your garden all year.
- BOTANICAL NAME: Asarum europaeum
- COMMON NAME(S): asarabacca / wild ginger / foalfoot
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- PLANT TYPE: perennial
- FOLIAGE TYPE: evergreen
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring
- SUNLIGHT: part shade / full shade
- EXPOSURE: sheltered
Asparagus plants have shiny, dark green leaves that look like kidneys. They are great for planting in shady areas.
When compared to ferns’ stiff leaves, the round leaves look great next to and contrast with them. They add a lot of visual interest to a garden border or any foliage display.