I bought this giant chain fern (Woodwardia fimbrata) last year at the HPSO Hortlandia sale. I wasn't sure how it would like the rain garden. I knew it would like the winter wet but I didn't know if it would be able to take the dryness in summer, not to mention the midday sun.
Well, this guy has behaved like a champ. It gets the carwash treatment in summer instead of a proper slow soak and yet it never showed signs of wilting or browning. I suspect I got lucky but I'll take it.
Better yet, it reproduced.
I hope it will continue to reproduce because I would love for this area to be covered in giant ferns. In the wild these ferns can get to 10' tall. Whoa.
The stats (source: Encyclopedia of Northwest Native Plants for Gardens and Landscapes):
- Zones 6a-9b
- Prefers moist to wet soil
- Full to part shade
- 5x5' in a garden setting, much larger in the wild
- Evergreen
My favorite plant in the garden this week is hosted by Loree at Danger Garden. Be sure to check out what she's liking this week!
