Ferns
Ferns in RHS gardens
RHS Garden Wisley contains an excellent selection of hardy ferns. This is largely based on a generous gift from the well-known author, Graham Stuart Thomas, in 1975, and is continually being supplemented.
Greenhouse ferns may also be seen at Wisley, mostly in the temperate and subtropical sections of the main greenhouse range; there are also some in the Singapore Airlines Orchid House.
Award of Garden Merit
Although no trial of either hardy or tender ferns has been held at Wisley to date, the garden qualities of a number of both hardy and greenhouse ferns have been recognised by the Award of Garden Merit.
Award of Garden Merit
List of Award
of Garden Merit ferns
Further reading
This is just one topic covered by the Society's monthly journal for members, The Garden, and some articles of interest are listed below.
Anon. 1996. Australian tree-fern crisis. The Garden (RHS) 121(7): 391.
Anon. 1997. Rosemoor discovers new fern scale. The Garden. 122(4): 221. The first record of New Zealand fern scale insect Pseudaulacaspis dubia in Britain, found on Dicksonia antarctica and Woodwardia radicans.
Barnes, P. 1988. The horticultural nomenclature of ferns. The Pteridologist, 1: 192-195. A proposal for the use of the cultivar-group with ferns.
Clough, P. 2000. Travelling trunks. The Garden. 125(5):382-383. Looking after imported, mature tree ferns.
Gilbert, R. 1993, May. Ferns of the forest. The Garden (RHS) 118(5): 204-205. About the stagshorn ferns, Platycerium.
Hendy, J. 1998, October. A palace fit for ferns. The Garden (RHS) 123(10): 740-743. The restoration of the fernery at Tatton Park, Cheshire.
Lancaster, R. 1999, November. Woodwardia unigemmata. The Garden (RHS) 124(11): 848-849.
Leslie, A.C. 1993 Polypodium vulgare. The Garden. 118(10): 450-452. Hardy polypodies and their cultivars.
Rickard, M. 1997. Asplenium scolopendrium. The Garden. 122(2): 86-89. The cultivars of the hart's tongue fern.
Rickard, M. 1994, March. Hardy ferns in Herefordshire. The Garden (RHS) 119(3): 110-113.
Rickard, M. 1993. The one that got away. The Pteridologist 2(4): 163-166. The story of the break-up of William Cranfield's fern collection, and the transfer of part of it to Wisley in the early 1950s.
Rickard, M. 1993. The Cranfield collection and Wisley. The Pteridologist 2(4): 175-178.
Toogood, A. 1999. April. Frond thoughts. The Garden (RHS) 124(4): 278-281. Propagation and cultivation of ferns.
Winder, E.A.B. 1996. December. Tree-fern crisis. The Garden (RHS) 121(12): 789.
Woodhams, J. 1999. Nov. Unfurling the past. The Garden. 124(11): 822-825. The restoration of a Victorian fernery in Richmond, London.
Links
British Pteridological Society (BPS) Founded in 1893, this thriving society now has over 800 members in many countries throughout the world, and several special interest groups.
Fern Society of Victoria Inc. a leading Australian fern society.
Hardy Fern Foundation A non-profit, membership organization established to provide a comprehensive collection of the world's hardy ferns for display, testing, evaluation, public education and introduction to the gardening and horticultural community.