These are moisture-loving plants that grow well in shaded areas and, if planted in the right spot, will make a relatively low-maintenance addition to your garden.
“Many woodland plants look great with ferns, growing as they do in similar conditions,” Master Horticulturist Colin Skelly says.
“These tend to be spring-flowering bulbs and perennials, which form a floral highlight that is replaced by the calming green of fern fronds.”
I have ferns that return to my garden borders every year without fail – they need zero upkeep and spread prolifically (something to bear in mind, though they are easy to identify and remove).
I never introduced them (they were already present when we moved in) but they will typically grow in the shaded area underneath shrubs and trees making them a great ‘space filler’ – and a complementary plant for areas that other plants might find difficult to grow.
If you already have ferns growing in your garden, you may wonder which other plants would work well in the same conditions to create a beautiful display.
Ferns are elegant plants that add texture and an exotic feel to any garden. With their delicate, lacy fronds, they make shady spots seem serene and lush. Ferns grow best in shady, moist conditions. This can make it tricky to find suitable companion plants for ferns that share the same preferences.
However, with a bit of planning, you can create stunning fern garden displays by pairing them with plants that appreciate the same growing environment. I’ve researched 18 of the best companion plants for ferns to help you design an enchanting, tropical-looking garden even in dense shade.
Why Grow Companion Plants With Ferns
Companion planting is beneficial for a few reasons
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It allows you to maximize space by filling areas near the ferns with other plants.
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Companion plants help retain moisture and humidity around the ferns,
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They can provide shelter from strong winds and sun
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Flowering companion plants add pops of color to contrast with the ferns.
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Plants with contrasting textures and foliage shapes complement the fine texture of ferns.
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Companion plants help suppress weeds that compete with ferns.
Best Perennials To Plant With Ferns
1. Astilbe
Astilbe produces feathery plumes of flowers reminiscent of fern fronds. They thrive in moist, partly shady areas, making them ideal companions. Astilbe adds height and color, with blossoms in white, pink, red, or purple.
2. Coral Bells
The colorful foliage of coral bells pairs perfectly with the bright green fronds of ferns. Coral bells add year-round interest with leaves in purple, pink, bronze, and green. Small flowers bloom in summer. They flourish in partial shade and moist soil.
3. Hostas
The broad leaves of hostas contrast beautifully with delicate ferns. Hostas come in varied green, blue, and yellow shades. Plant them around ferns to add bold texture and help retain soil moisture. Their shade and moisture preferences align with ferns.
4. Hellebores
Hellebores bloom very early, sometimes even poking through the snow. Plant them near evergreen ferns like Hart’s tongue and Christmas fern for winter interest. Their rose-like blooms in shades of purple, pink and yellow complement the greens of ferns.
5. Ligularia
Ligularia produces large spikes of bright yellow daisy-like flowers in summer and fall. Its big leaves provide shelter for more delicate ferns. Ligularias thrive in moist soil and do well in shady borders alongside ferns.
6. Lily of the Valley
This shade loving ground cover spreads readily, making an attractive living mulch under ferns. The sweetly scented white bell flowers of lily of the valley bloom in spring. Plant it in areas where the spreading habit will not become invasive.
7. Corydalis
Corydalis produces clusters of blue flowers early in the growing season, adding a pop of color before most perennials bloom. It thrives alongside ferns in partial to full shade in moist, well-draining soil. Some species have beautiful gray-blue foliage.
8. Hardy Geraniums
Hardy geraniums or cranesbill flourish under the same growing conditions as ferns. Plant them along borders or pathways near ferns to weave charming color through your garden from late spring into fall. They bloom profusely in shades of purple, pink, white, and blue.
9. Brunnera
The heart-shaped silver spotted leaves of Brunnera contrast beautifully with ferns. Sprays of tiny blue flowers appear in spring. Brunnera enjoys moist soil and flourishes in the shade of larger ferns where it can spread as a ground cover.
Best Annuals & Bulbs to Grow With Ferns
10. Begonias
Begonias thrive in humidity, partial sun, and moist soil, making them natural companions for ferns. Their colorful, abundant blooms and attractive foliage add long-lasting color. Grow shade-loving tuberous or wax begonias.
11. Caladium
The arrowhead-shaped leaves of caladium come in an array of colors and patterns that pop against the green backdrop of ferns. Caladiums appreciate the shelter ferns provide and help brighten up dark, moist areas of the garden.
12. Impatiens
Impatiens produce flowers continuously from spring to fall in bright shades of white, pink, red, orange, purple and coral. They tolerate shade and need moist soil. Use impatiens to infuse cheerful color among your ferns.
13. Forget-Me-Nots
These delicate looking blue bloomers actually thrive in damp, shady areas where many plants struggle. Scatter forget-me-not seeds around ferns for a pretty spring display. They self sow readily.
14. Crocuses
Plant early blooming crocuses and other small bulbs among ferns. They’ll sprout up early in spring and provide color. Popular choices include snow crocus, tommasinianus crocus, reticulata iris, and winter aconite.
Best Shrubs & Vines for Fern Gardens
15. Azaleas & Rhododendrons
The leaves of these shrubs hold in moisture around ferns. Flower colors include shades of pink, purple, red, orange, yellow and white depending on variety. Plant them as a backdrop to ferns or intermingle with ferns in a woodland garden.
16. Sweetbox (Sarcococca)
This shade loving shrub produces tiny fragrant white flowers in winter. Plant it along borders near ferns to add structure and fill in areas. Bonus: deer resistant and tolerates dry soil once established.
17. Hydrangea
Bigleaf, Oakleaf, and Climbing hydrangea cultivars brighten up shady gardens with their bold, colorful blooms. They appreciate the same growing conditions as ferns. Use them as striking focal points dotted among ferns.
18. Clematis
Grow a clematis vine up a shrub or trellis situated near your ferns. The “feet” of the vines will relish the cool, moist soil while the climbing vines and flowers bask in the sun. Popular shade tolerant varieties include the early blooming Clematis alpina and spring flowering Clematis macropetala.
Design Tips for Planting Companion Plants With Ferns
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Use taller companions toward the back and lower growing plants near the front of garden beds for best visibility.
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Incorporate flowering plants to add punches of color that stand out against the green ferns.
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Mix fine and large leafed plants together to add diverse textures.
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Add layers and depth by incorporating plants with different height and growth habits.
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Repeating companion plants creates cohesion. For example, plant several astilbe or hosta varieties together.
With the right companion plant picks, you can design a spectacular garden that showcases the elegant form of ferns. Combine shade lovers with similar cultural needs to create a tranquil, lush look.
Our Experts’ Top Picks
We asked some experts from dedicated fern nurseries to share their favourite companion plants to grow with ferns.
Neil Timm, Owner of The Fern Nursery, an award-winning fern supplier based in the heart of Lincolnshire, recommends a range of different shade-loving plants.
“Ferns partner very well with naturalised spring bulbs under trees since they do not have overlapping seasons and, therefore, do not compete,” he says.
“Spring bulbs start just after New Year and last until May, while most ferns start in May and last until Christmas. This sadly includes many of the so-called ‘evergreen’ ferns, which tend to be over by New Year.
“By using spring bulbs, you can get twelve months of interest in the space under trees.
“Also, any small creeping herbs, such as Creeping Jenny and Ajuga reptans, provide a cool root run for the ferns and their low stature does not detract from the fern’s shape.”
We also asked Mark Taylor, the Owner of Alchemy Ferns, to share his favourite companions.
“Ferns grow well with most plants but go particularly well when grown with hostas, grasses and under Japanese Acers,” Mark explains.
“They also work great in mixed plantings with shrubs and perennials, working together to provide a contrast of textures and forms.
“Alternatively, they can be grown alongside other shade-loving plants like azaleas, rhododendrons, epimediums, or in a woodland planting scheme.”
“Generally, shade-loving plant species will happily co-exist with ferns, but it does depend on the fern species,” says Kylie, Horticulturist at Verdigris Ferns, a specialist nursery based in Australia.
“Personally, we have planted a lot of rainforest species with our ferns, but this is a personal preference and does reflect our climate and location.
“In a European garden, these choices might be slightly different.”
Hopefully, each of our growers has given you some ideas, but if you’re looking for more, there’s no need to worry.
We share twenty of our favourite plants that can be grown with ferns to compliment their green foliage and that will thrive in the same conditions – as well as providing additional interest to your garden beds.
- BOTANICAL NAME: hosta
- COMMON NAME(S): plantain lily
- HARDINESS RATING: H7
- PLANT TYPE: perennial
- FOLIAGE TYPE: deciduous
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer
- SUNLIGHT: part shade
- EXPOSURE: sheltered
Hostas love the shade, so are an obvious choice to grow with ferns right off the bat.
Although they sometimes produce trumpet-shaped flowers in the summer months, these plants are mainly recognised for their stunning foliage which comes in a range of colours and hues.
These versatile plants will make a great addition to your display of ferns, which can act as a serene backdrop to the additional subtle burst of (often variegated) colour that hostas provide.
- BOTANICAL NAME: hellebore
- COMMON NAME(S): christmas rose / lenten rose
- HARDINESS RATING: H7
- PLANT TYPE: perennial
- FOLIAGE TYPE: semi-evergreen
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): winter
- SUNLIGHT: varies by type
- EXPOSURE: sheltered
Also favouring the same growing conditions, hellebores are another great companion plant for ferns.
They produce stunning star-shaped flowers in various colours over the winter months, with sepals instead of the usual petals, and can act as a great accent plant amongst the foliage of ferns.
Coral Bells
- BOTANICAL NAME: Heuchera sanguinea
- COMMON NAME(S): coral bells
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- PLANT TYPE: perennial
- FOLIAGE TYPE: semi-evergreen
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): summer
- SUNLIGHT: part shade / full sun
- EXPOSURE: exposed / sheltered
Not only do Coral Bells bear tiny tubular flowers from long, often brightly coloured stems in summer, but these plants also produce stunning leaves that come in a dazzling array of shades from deep purple to yellow and everything in between.
These semi-evergreen perennials work well with ferns as they both adore the shade and will survive even in poor weather.
Both prized for their year-round foliage, these two plants will bring interest to your garden beds with minimal care all throughout the year.
- BOTANICAL NAME: Myosotis sylvatica
- COMMON NAME(S): garden forget-me-not
- HARDINESS RATING: H6
- PLANT TYPE: perennial
- FOLIAGE TYPE: semi-evergreen
- FLOWERING SEASON(S): spring / summer
- SUNLIGHT: part shade
- EXPOSURE: exposed / sheltered
Perfect for spring displays, Forget-Me-Nots can bring joy to any garden with their small blue flowers that protrude from tall green stems.
Like ferns, they prefer a part-shaded spot and can be used as a ground cover plant to add a splash of colour at the base of taller foliage plants.
Forget-me-nots self-seed regularly, so are suited to wildflower gardens or more natural planting schemes where ferns can also thrive.
What to plant with ferns in a shady border
FAQ
What plants go well with ferns?
Ferns will grow well in areas with too much shade for flowers and other ground covers. They come in a variety of textures and colors. They work well mixed with Hostas, Heucheras, Vinca, Caladiums, Impatiens, Violas, Lenten Roses, and grasses. Plant ivy, moss, or Creeping Jenny as a ground cover around specimen ferns.
Do ferns plants like sun or shade?
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General Preference:Most ferns are shade-loving plants, thriving in areas with dappled sunlight or partial shade.
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Why Shade?Ferns evolved in natural environments like forest floors, where they receive filtered sunlight and ample moisture.
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Sun Tolerance:While many ferns prefer shade, some varieties, like the Lady Fern, can tolerate some sun, especially in the morning.
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Specific Ferns and Their Sun Needs:
- Ostrich Fern: Prefers slightly acidic soils with good organic matter content and shady to partly sunny locations.
- Lady Fern: Tolerates shady to partly sunny planting locations.
- Japanese Painted Fern: Grows best when not exposed to full sun and is shaded from hot afternoon sun.
- Boston Fern: Thrives in shade and can be a great addition to a shade garden.
- Ostrich Fern: Prefers slightly acidic soils with good organic matter content and shady to partly sunny locations.
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Watering:Ferns generally need moist soil, so ensure they receive regular watering, especially in hotter, drier conditions.
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Soil:Ferns prefer rich, well-drained soils with lots of organic matter.
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Indoor Ferns:If growing ferns indoors, try to replicate the moist, low-light conditions where they thrive outdoors.
Do ferns like to be crowded?
Ferns really like to be pot bound, or crowded in their pot.
Where should I plant ferns in my yard?
They can thrive in the shaded areas to great heights, texture and color. Ferns flourish better in a woodland garden that requires at least partial shade.