Top 10 Ferns for Indoor and Outdoor Gardens

January 8, 2026

Ferns for gardens are beautiful and have many uses, whether it is to beautify a comfortable living room or change a dark backyard. These ferns are ancient plants that suit well in indoor fern environments and outdoor scenery. Growing in fine container selections to grand landscape effect, ferns add texture and greenery that has low maintenance in any location. At Online Plant Nursery, we have decades of experience in assisting gardeners in picking the best types of ferns that suit their individual growing environments.

What Makes Ferns Ideal for Both Indoor and Outdoor Spaces?

Ferns for gardens are the most versatile—none of the plant families can be adapted more easily to most environments. Indoor ferns can be grown in bright light that is indirect, so that they seem to be in the forest under the story of the forest, which makes them excellent for use in homes and offices. Their ability to clean the air and their ability to withstand low light are the solutions to the usual challenges of houseplants.

In the garden, the same plants form beautiful points of interest in shaded borders, woodland gardens, and containers. Their feathery fronds soften them and only need little care once formed. The professionals of Online Plant Nursery have noted that effective fern gardening consists of correctly matching varieties to your particular environment, including moisture levels, access to light, and temperature levels.

The majority of the indoor fern varieties can be taken outdoors seasonally in suitable climates, and some of the outdoor ferns can be brought in for the winter. This versatility is what makes the ferns wise choices in rotating plant collections.

Top 10 Ferns for Indoor and Outdoor Gardens

Thuidium

Bracken Fern Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum): The finely cut Maidenhair Fern has fan-shaped leaflets on black stems. Grows 12-18 inches tall. It likes direct sunlight and high humidity. Fits bathrooms or terrariums perfectly.

Carpet moss

Gingko Biloba Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata): Conventional, having falling fronds and 2-3 feet. Good at hanging baskets. It is the most famous indoor fern for purifying the air.

Button Bush

Reindeer Moss Bird’s Nest Fern (Asplenium nidus): Glossy, apple-green fronds set in a rosette shape. Needs little maintenance and less light. Grows 18-24 inches. It’s good for new users to know how to take care of ferns inside.

Silver Maple Tree

Painted Trillium Staghhorn Fern (Platycerium): Unique epiphyte growing upon boards. Fronds are shaped like an antler, making dramatic displays. It likes lots of indirect lighting.
Lady Fern Lemon Button Fern (Nephrolepis cordifolia): Round leaflets and lemony fragrance. Grows 12-15 inches. This hardy indoor fern variety is stunning in small areas and terrariums.
Fiddlehead Fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris): Fiddlehead Fern has edible spring growth and grandiose 3-5 foot fronds. Perfect in wet and shady gardens. It is one of the most suitable ferns to be used outdoors in cooler climates.
Giant Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris Giant): The Giant Ostrich Fern makes bold statements with 4-6 foot high fronds. Best in riverbanks and rain gardens. Fast-growing and cold-hardy.
New York Fern (Thelypteris noveboracensis): The New York Fern is also able to adjust to different levels of moisture. Grows 1-2 feet and has yellow-green fronds. Grows naturally in forests. Very good decision to use the best fern outside.
Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium niponicum): Beautiful burgundy and silver foliage is used in shade gardens. Grows 12-18 inches. Deerproof and no-fuss.
Autumn Fern (Dryopteris erythrosora): Copper-red new growth turns deep green. Evergreen in mild climates. Grows 18-24 inches. One of the most difficult ferns for gardens that has interest throughout the year.

Online Plant Nursery chooses each and every variety with great care in terms of vigor and adaptability, with a guarantee that your ferns will come ready to grow.

Key Growth Traits of Popular Fern Varieties

Knowing how to grow things can be used to suit the types of fern varieties indoors and out in your area:

Light: The majority of indoor ferns like bright and indirect light—direct sunlight burns fronds. Eastern or Northern windows are the most effective ones. Outdoor types are partial to full shade.
Humidity Requirement: Learning how to care for ferns indoors begins with taking care of them with regard to humidity. Most prefer 50-80% humidity. Place plants in groups, place them on pebble trays, close to the humidifier.
Giant Watering Instructions: Soil should be kept constantly wet but not underwater. The indoor types might require misting every day. When they have become established, outdoor ferns are dependent on rainfall.
Soil Preferences: This well-draining, organic soil is reminiscent of natural forest floors. Combine peat moss and perlite in containers. The advantage of outdoor beds is compost amendments. To get information about the native plants and the growing zones, use the USDA Plants Database.
Temperature Tolerance: A majority of indoor ferns like 60-75°F. Keep off cold drafts and heating vents. Freezing happens to hardy outdoor plants when they are adequately mulched.

Care Tips to Keep Ferns Healthy Year-Round

Indoor Fern Care

Learning how to grow ferns indoors is a guarantee:

Watering: Monitor soil moisture daily—maintain a steady amount. Use room-temperature water. Crown rot is prevented by bottom watering.
Humidity: Spray moisture every day or employ humidifiers. Indoor ferns Group in groups to form microclimates. There is natural humidity in bathrooms.
Feeding: Every month, apply liquid fertilizer diluted during the growing season. Reduce feeding in winter.
Grooming: At the base, cut off brown fronds. Report a loss of roots through drainage holes.

Outdoor Fern Care

The best ferns for outdoors require the least amount of care:

Planting: Add compost to the soil. Space as mature size. Thoroughly water and mulch at bases.
Seasonal Maintenance: Extraction of dead fronds during early spring. Use compost top-dressing once a year. Split congested clumps after every 3-4 years.
Winter Protection: Before the first frost, place 2-3 inches of mulch. The majority of garden-hardy ferns can survive winters with little protection.
Silver Maple Pest Control: Ferns are resistant to the majority of pests. Scale is to be observed on indoor varieties and slugs outdoors in wet seasons.

The quality of the online Plant nursery will ensure that every fern comes with instructions on how to care for it based on your growing zone.

Gingko

Conclusion

Painted

Ferns for gardens beautify areas in a way that is architectural and has low maintenance. Cultivation of indoor ferns to add beauty to the home or outdoor setting to form a colony—these ancient plants are sure to perform. Online Plant Nursery provides the perfect specimens of all the environments, from the sensitive Maidenhair Fern to the dramatic Giant Ostrich Fern. The choice of our Fiddlehead Fern and New York Fiddlehead Fern is assured to be performed with expert knowledge.

FAQs

What is the best fern to grow indoors?

Boston Ferns and Maidenhair Ferns thrive when light is bright and indirect, and there is steady humidity.

Which fern is best for outdoors?

Outdoor plants such as Giant Ostrich Fern and New York Fern are tough and can be used in different moisture levels and shade.

Are ferns better inside or outside?

It is determined by the variety, as tropical ferns are more comfortable in indoor conditions, and native hardy ferns live all year outdoors.

Which fern can take full sun?

Ferns like Bracken Fern and Hay-scented Fern are more tolerant of sun and can handle some sunlight with a lot of water.

Can ferns grow well in containers?

Yes, a number of ferns perform well in containers that are well-drained, in organic soil, and have regular moisture and humidity.

Where can I buy a fern online?

Online Plant Nursery is a nursery that sells online nursery ferns with professional care guides and quality shipping throughout the country.

Reindeer Thuidium Fiddlehead

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