Ferns for sunny locations
Most ferns thrive in shade or semi-shade as they are descended from woodland plants. For a site in full sunshine, choose from this list of ferns that tolerate full sun. Top tip: give these ferns a good long drink every week when the weather is dry to help them cope with the sun (a watering can of water for each mature plant).
Plants (73)
Dryopteris wallichiana 'Jurassic Gold'
Alpine wood fern
Equisetum hyemale
Rough horsetail, Dutch rush, Scouring rush
Matteuccia
Ostrich fern
Matteuccia struthiopteris
Ostrich fern, Ostrich plume fern, Shuttlecock fern
Osmunda cinnamomea
Cinnamon fern, Fiddleheads, Buckhorn
Osmunda regalis
Royal fern, Ditch fern, Locust fern, Snake fern
Osmunda regalis 'Purpurascens'
Purple royal fern, Royal fern, Ditch fern, Locust fern, Snake fern
Pilularia globulifera
Common pillwort
Polystichum
Holly fern
Polystichum munitum
Sword fern, Western holly fern
Polystichum polyblepharum
Japanese tassel fern, Tassel fern, Bristle fern, Fern of eyelashes
Polystichum setiferum
Soft shield fern, Hedge fern, English hedge fern
Polystichum setiferum 'Herrenhausen'
Soft shield fern, Hedge fern, English hedge fern
Polystichum setiferum 'Pulcherrimum Bevis'
Soft shield fern, Hedge fern, English hedge fern
Polystichum setiferum Congestum Group 'Congestum'
Soft shield fern, Hedge fern, English hedge fern
Polystichum setiferum Divisibolum Group 'Dahlem'
Dahlems shield fern
Pteridium aquilinum
Bracken, Brake, Pasture brake, Eagle brake
Pteris
Brake, Dish fern, Table fern, Brake fern
Pteris cretica
Cretan brake, Cretan fern, Ribbon fern
Salvinia
Floating fern, Spangled water fern, Ear-shaped water fern, Water velvet, Cat's tongue
Thelypteris palustris
Marsh fern, Eastern marsh fern
Adiantum x mairisii
Mairis nursery fern
Dryopteris carthusiana
Narrow buckler fern, Spinulose wood fern, Spiny wood fern, Evergreen wood fern
Pteris ensiformis 'Evergemiensis'
Sword brake, Snow brake fern
Salvinia auriculata
Floating fern, Spangled water fern, Ear-shaped water fern