I love the ferns also. Were they native?
Yes. My biggest area of ostrich ferns happened on its own. They showed up, and multiplied (underground spreading). I keep the borders under my control, moving what shows up in the wrong place. I've pulled ostrich ferns from the original bed to start new beds. They abhor sun shining on them. Full shade it is.
Other ferns show up, from seeds blowing in the wind. Or not seeds, spores. They grown in the grass. I've dug them up and put them in another large fern bed. As those have matured over the years, it's become obvious I have at least four different species. There are woodlands all around where I live. The spores must blow in from there.
Cinnamon ferns are obvious because of the spikes with spores that they send up from their middles. I have some of them, but not a bed full yet. They do not spread like the Ostriches do.
I also have one Royal Fern. They prefer to grow in water. I don't have a stream, so I have to water this one. It may not survive. I took it from the woods. Don't tell.
And oh, Sensitive Ferns. They show up all over the place and grow fast. They will grow in the sun.
I'd like a bed of Hay Scented Ferns. They grow naturally here. They have not shown up in my garden on their own, so I need a donor to give me some. If there were no coronavirus going on, I'd ask the person I know who has too many if he'd let me take some this summer. Maybe, maybe, sometime in the future I'll do that.
MA is good for ferns. The ostrich ferns and cinnamon ferns get as high as mid-chest. I love ferns.
