Reading a shady place

A shaded corner is a starting point, not a complete description of a growing place.

Notice what changes

Visit the spot in the morning and afternoon. Then think about the season: the shade of a leafy tree in summer may be very different from the same place in winter. Make a short record before choosing a plant.

Next, look at the soil after rain and during a dry spell. A place beneath trees can be shaded and still become dry. Moisture-retentive soil and waterlogged soil are different conditions, and fern preferences vary between species.

Match the fern to the site

Many garden Athyrium prefer a sheltered position, shade and soil that holds moisture without remaining saturated. Strong sun and dry conditions can damage their foliage. Their divided fronds combine well with plants with larger, simpler leaves. RHS: growing Athyrium.

Some Polystichum can tolerate drier conditions once established. That tolerance does not remove the need to water a newly planted fern. The RHS recommends keeping new plants well watered, especially during their first years. RHS: growing Polystichum.

Keep the plan small

Choose a plant suited to the space it will occupy when mature. Read the nursery label and a species-specific growing guide, and check advice for your own climate. Our catalogue is an introduction to form and habit, rather than a planting prescription.

Begin with one plant and a few observations. Note how quickly the soil dries, whether the site catches wind, and how the foliage responds over a season. A modest, well-observed planting gives you more to work with than a long list of plants chosen for their names alone.