There are approximately 12,000 fern species growing worldwide, most of them found in forests, woodlands or tropical regions. While it would be impossible to collect all of these, most of us gardeners enjoy growing a handful of ferns in the backyard, prized for their lush foliage and tolerance of shady conditions.
As a former professional gardener, I have grown and cared for many different ferns, and while it would be impossible to pick a favorite, I have always loved the hart's-tongue fern, Asplenium scolopendrium, as seen in the image above. With thick, lush evergreen fronds, this fern can provide year-round interest even in cold, northern regions in the UK.
