This summer I've been enjoying two foliage plants that have a similar look and feel but come from different families. Vacouveria hexandra, known as the "Vancouver fern (below)," makes a great groundcover in dry shade. This swath is growing next to an Arborvita hedge in a grove of River Birch trees so you know there is a lot of competition for moisture.
I love Adiantum pedatum aka Maidenhair fern. Years ago a neighbor gave me a clump and I've been a fan ever since. Two years ago I planted Adiantum Venustum (pictured below), the Himalayan Maindenhair fern. Though it has the same lacy quality, Venustum lacks the spiral shape of the tall fronds in the straight species. It grows instead in airy clumps that slowly spread out like a lacy groundcover. These are growing in a richer, more moist environment that the Vancoveria. I am quite pleased with it given the fact that its first two summers in the garden have both been hotter and drier than normal.
To find out what kinds of foliage appeals to other gardeners, visit Pam Penick at Digging for Foliage Follow-Up Day.
Two of my favorite foliage plants! I need to get more of both. I've seen great swathes of the Vancouveria here at gardens in the PNW.
Posted by: Alison | Sunday, September 16, 2012 at 11:40 AM
The Vancouver Fern is wonderful. Is it easy to find in nurseries? And probably needs a real shady area.
Posted by: Curt Heuer | Sunday, September 16, 2012 at 01:35 PM
What I love about maidenhair fern are those wiry, black stems. Would you believe that it grows well here in Austin too? -- so long as it's on the moist edge of a stream or shady, dripping cliff edge.
Posted by: Pam/Digging | Sunday, September 16, 2012 at 01:36 PM
Curt and Jeanne — I bought it mail order a long time ago but local gardeners tell me it is not too hard to find. It gets some morning sun.
Posted by: Linda Brazill | Sunday, September 16, 2012 at 02:19 PM
Pam — Since my maidenhair has been doing pretty well with the drought, I am not surprised to hear you can grow it with some moisture in Texas.
Posted by: Linda Brazill | Sunday, September 16, 2012 at 02:20 PM
The world is small: I saw the Himalayan Maidenhair Fern at a former client's on Sunday! He is a fern collector & great gardener so you are in good company.
Posted by: Julie Siegel | Wednesday, September 19, 2012 at 12:25 PM