Ferns flourish in woods, swamps and many gardens in New Jersey.
New Jersey has a number of native species of ferns. The state's temperate climate and abundant rainfall create an ideal environment for these moisture-loving plants. According to the New York Botanical Garden, modern ferns are the descendants of plants that flourished in the Carboniferous period, which was about 300 million years ago.
Christmas Fern
The scientific name for this fern is Polystichum acrostichoides. This is an evergreen fern with leathery dark leaves that is found growing in wooded areas. It is an easy fern to grow in gardens.This plant averages 24 to 26 inches in height. In the past, leaves of the Christmas fern were used in Christmas decorations, according to the Kemper Center for Home Gardening.
Leatherwood Fern
The leatherwood fern (Dryopteris marginalis) reaches average heights of 24 to 30 inches. It is an unusual fern in that it is drought tolerant, though it does best in moist soil and part or full shade. This fern is evergreen and is not suited for garden areas that get full sun.
Cinnamon Fern
Cinnamon ferns (Osmunda cinnamomea) reach about 3 feet in height and are named for the cinnamon coloring of their fertile, inner fronds. This is not an evergreen fern and the green outer fronds die back in the winter. This fern is found near streams and ponds and does best in moist soils.
Eastern Hay Scented Fern
This fern (Dennstaedtia punctilobula) is a small, light green fern reaching about 18 to 20 inches in height. While it prefers damp woods and rich moist soils, it can survive in a variety of conditions. It is one of the rarer ferns that can do well even in full sun and rocky soils. When the fronds are crushed, they give forth an odor like that of freshly mowed hay.
Maidenhair Fern
The maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum) is a small fern, about 18 to 24 inches high, with rounded fronds, that does best in partial or full shade with rich, moist soil. The inner fertile fronds are pink when they are young. Young fronds are called fiddleheads and are considered a delicacy. While this fern is easily grown in a garden, it will turn brown if not given sufficient water.
Ostrich Fern
The ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris) can reach heights of about 6 feet though most specimens will be about 4 feet in height. Its plumes resemble ostrich feathers. This fern also has edible fiddleheads in the springtime. Ostrich ferns do best in full shade and cooler temperatures.
Royal Fern
Found in swamps and marshes, the royal fern (Osmunda regalis) is tolerant of salty soils although, as with most ferns, it does best in moist, rich soil. The royal fern reaches heights of up to 6 feet, and does best in partial or full shade.
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