There are more than 20,000 known species of ferns, so this could, in principle, be a very long list. However, here are some of the most popular, common, and beautiful ferns that decorate gardens around the world.
Alphabetical list (common names)
![](https://ferngardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Alpine-water-fern-1024x683.jpg)
Alpine water fern
- Blechnum penna-marina
- Evergreen
- Shade, partial or full sun
- Height: up to 0.2 m
- Soil: acid or neutral. Moist, well-drained. Drought tolerant.
![](https://ferngardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Copper-shield-fern.jpg)
Autumn fern
- Dryopteris erythrosora
- Semi-evergreen
- Full or partial shade, and full sun
- Height: up to 1 m
- Soil: tolerant of most pH and drainage conditions.
![](https://ferngardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Birds-nest-fern.jpg)
Bird’s nest fern
- Asplenium nidus
- Evergreen
- Partial or full shade
- Height: up to 1 m
- Soil: acid or neutral. Moist, well-drained.
![](https://ferngardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Boston-fern.jpg)
Boston fern
- Nephrolepis exaltata
- Evergreen
- Partial shade
- Height: up to 1 m
- Soil: acid or neutral. Moist, well-drained.
![](https://ferngardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Button-fern-1-1024x683.jpg)
Button fern
- Pellaea rotundifolia
- Evergreen
- Partial shade
- Height: up to 0.3 m
- Soil: acid or neutral. Moist, well drained.
![](https://ferngardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Carrot-fern.jpg)
Carrot fern
- Onychium japonicum
- Deciduous
- Prefers partial shade
- Height: up to 0.5 m
- Soil: acid, neutral or alkaline. Moist, well-drained.
Image Credit: Keisotyo
![](https://ferngardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Christmas-fern.jpg)
Christmas fern
- Polystichum acrostichoides
- Evergreen
- Partial shade
- Height: up to 1 m
- Soil: acid, neutral or alkaline. Moist, well-drained.
![](https://ferngardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Cinnamon-fern.jpg)
Cinnamon fern
- Osmunda cinnamomea
- Deciduous
- Prefers partial shade
- Height: up to 1.5 m
- Soil: acid. Moist, poor drainage tolerated.
![](https://ferngardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Bracken-1.jpg)
Common bracken
- Pteridium aquilinum
- Deciduous
- Prefers partial shade or full sun
- Height: up to 1 m
- Soil: acid, neutral or alkaline. Moist, well-drained.
![](https://ferngardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Polypody.jpg)
Common polypody
- Polypodium vulgare
- Evergreen
- Partial shade or full sun
- Height: up to 0.5 m
- Soil: Neutral or alkaline. Moist, well-drained.
![](https://ferngardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Crocodile_fern.jpg)
Crocodile fern
- Microsorum musifolium
- Evergreen
- Partial to full shade
- Height: up to 1 m
- Soil: Acid or neutral. Moist, well-drained.
![](https://ferngardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Hairy-lip-fern.jpg)
Hairy lip fern
- Cheilanthes lanosa
- Evergreen
- Full sun
- Height: up to 0.5 m
- Soil: acid, neutral or alkaline. Moist, well-drained.
Image credit: Krzysztof Ziarnek
![](https://ferngardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Hard-fern.jpg)
Hard fern
- Blechnum spicant
- Evergreen
- Prefers partial or full shade
- Height: up to 0.5 m
- Soil: acid or neutral. Moist, poor-drainage tolerated.
![](https://ferngardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Harts-tongue-1.jpg)
Hart’s tongue fern
- Asplenium scolopendrium
- Evergreen
- Prefers partial or full shade
- Height: up to 0.5 m
- Soil: alkaline or neutral. Moist, well drained.
![](https://ferngardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Hay-scented-fern.jpg)
Hay-scented fern
- Dennstaedtia punctilobula
- Deciduous
- Full or partial shade
- Height: up to 1 m
- Soil: acid or neutral. Moist, well-drained, and tolerates dry soil.
![](https://ferngardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Heart-fern.jpg)
Heart fern
- Hemionitis arifolia
- Evergreen
- Prefers partial shade or indirect light
- Height: up to 0.5 m
- Soil: neutral. Moist, well-drained.
Image credit: Krzysztof Ziarnek
![](https://ferngardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Holly-fern.jpg)
Holly fern
- Cyrtomium falcatum
- Evergreen or semi-evergreen
- Full or partial shade
- Height: up to 1 m
- Soil: acid, neutral or alkaline. Moist, well-drained.
![](https://ferngardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Interrupted-fern-1024x683.jpg)
Interrupted fern
- Osmunda claytoniana
- Deciduous
- Prefers partial shade
- Height: up to 1 m
- Soil: acid. Moist, poor drainage tolerated.
![](https://ferngardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Japanese-painted-fern.jpg)
Japanese painted fern
- Athyrium niponicum
- Deciduous
- Prefers partial shade
- Height: up to 0.5 m
- Soil: acid, neutral or alkaline. Moist, well-drained.
![](https://ferngardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Kangaroo_paw.jpg)
Kangaroo paw fern
- Microsorum diversifolium
- Evergreen
- Prefers partial shade
- Height: up to 0.5 m
- Soil: acid or neutral. Moist, well-drained.
![](https://ferngardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/King-fern.jpg)
King fern
- Dryopteris affinis
- Semi-evergreen
- Shade, partial or full sun
- Height: up to 1.5 m
- Soil: acid, neutral or alkaline. Moist, well-drained.
![](https://ferngardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Lady-fern.jpg)
Lady fern
- Athyrium filix-femina
- Deciduous
- Prefers partial or full shade
- Height: up to 1 m
- Soil: acid or neutral. Moist, poor drainage tolerated.
![](https://ferngardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Lemon-button-fern.jpg)
Lemon button fern
- Nephrolepis cordifolia (duffii)
- Evergreen
- Partial shade
- Height: up to 0.5 m
- Soil: acid or neutral. Moist, well-drained.
![](https://ferngardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Macho-fern-1024x683.jpg)
Macho fern
- Nephrolepis biserrata
- Evergreen
- Partial or full shade
- Height: up to 2 m
- Soil: acid or neutral. Moist, well-drained
![](https://ferngardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Maidenhair-fern.jpg)
Maidenhair fern
- Adiantum raddianum
- Evergreen
- Partial shade
- Height: up to 0.5 m
- Soil: neutral or alkaline. Moist, well-drained.
![](https://ferngardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Maidenhair-spleenwort-1024x683.jpg)
Maidenhair spleenwort
- Asplenium trichomanes
- Evergreen
- Full or partial shade
- Height: up to 0.3 m
- Soil: neutral or alkaline. Moist, well-drained.
![](https://ferngardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Male-fern.jpg)
Male fern
- Dryopteris filix-mas
- Deciduous
- Prefers partial or full shade
- Height: up to 1.5 m
- Soil: acid, neutral or alkaline. Moist, poor drainage tolerated.
![](https://ferngardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Marsh-fern-1024x669.jpg)
Marsh fern
- Thelypteris palustris
- Deciduous
- Partial or full shade
- Height: up to 1 m
- Soil: acid or neutral. Moist, tolerates poor drainage.
![](https://ferngardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Northern_maidenhair-1024x682.jpg)
Northern maidenhair fern
- Adiantum pedatum
- Deciduous
- Partial or full shade
- Height: up to 0.5 m
- Soil: acid, neutral or alkaline. Moist, well-drained.
![](https://ferngardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Oak-fern-1-1024x683.jpg)
Oak fern
- Gymnocarpium dryopteris
- Deciduous
- Prefers full shade
- Height: up to 0.3 m
- Soil: acid or neutral. Moist, well-drained.
![](https://ferngardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Oriental-chain-fern-1024x683.jpg)
Oriental chain fern
- Woodwardia orientalis
- Evergreen
- Prefers partial shade
- Height: up to 1.5 m
- Soil: acid or neutral. Moist, tolerates poor drainage.
![](https://ferngardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Ostrich-fern.jpg)
Ostrich fern
- Matteuccia struthiopteris
- Deciduous
- Full or partial shade
- Height: up to 1.5 m
- Soil: acid or neutral. Moist, well-drained.
![](https://ferngardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Rabbits-foot-2.jpg)
Rabbit’s foot fern
- Davallia solida (var. fejeensis)
- Evergreen
- Partial shade
- Height: up to 1 m
- Soil: acid or neutral. Moist, well-drained.
![](https://ferngardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Royal-fern.jpg)
Royal fern
- Osmunda regalis
- Deciduous
- Full or partial shade, and full sun
- Height: up to 2.5 m
- Soil: acid, neutral or alkaline. Moist, poor drainage tolerated.
![](https://ferngardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Sensitive-fern-1024x680.jpg)
Sensitive fern
- Onoclea sensibilis
- Deciduous
- Full or partial shade
- Height: up to 0.5 m
- Soil: acid or neutral. Moist, poor drainage tolerated.
![](https://ferngardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Silver-brake-fern.jpg)
Silver brake fern
- Pteris argyraea
- Evergreen
- Prefers partial shade
- Height: up to 0.5 m
- Soil: acid or neutral. Moist, well-drained.
![](https://ferngardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Silver-lace-fern-1024x683.jpg)
Silver lace fern
- Pteris evergemiensis
- Evergreen
- Partial or full shade
- Height: up to 0.5 m
- Soil: neutral or alkaline. Moist, well-drained.
![](https://ferngardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Soft-shield-fern-1024x683.jpg)
Soft Shield fern
- Polystichum setiferum
- Evergreen
- Full or partial shade
- Height: 0.5 – 1 m
- Soil: Acid, neutral or alkaline. Moist, well-drained.
![](https://ferngardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Tree-fern-1024x683.jpg)
Soft tree fern
- Dicksonia antarctica
- Evergreen or semi-evergreen
- Full or partial shade
- Height: up to 4 m
- Soil: acid or neutral. Moist, well-drained.
![](https://ferngardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Southern-shield-fern.jpg)
Southern wood fern
- Dryopteris ludoviciana
- Semi-evergreen
- Prefers full or partial shade
- Height: up to 1.5 m
- Soil: acid, neutral or alkaline. Moist, tolerates poor drainage.
![](https://ferngardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Staghorn-fern.jpg)
Staghorn fern
- Platycerium bifurcatum
- Evergreen
- Prefers partial shade
- Height: up to 1 m
- Epiphytic (but can be grown on loam). Keep moist, well-drained.
![](https://ferngardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Sunset-fern.jpg)
Sunset fern
- Dryopteris lepidopoda
- Semi-evergreen
- Full or partial shade
- Height: up to 1 m
- Soil: acid or neutral. Moist, well-drained.
![](https://ferngardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Tassel-fern-1024x683.jpg)
Tassel fern
- Polystichum polyblepharum
- Evergreen
- Partial or full shade
- Height: up to 1 m
- Soil: acid, neutral or alkaline. Moist, well-drained.
![](https://ferngardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Wallichs-wood-fern-1024x683.jpg)
Wallich’s wood fern
- Drypopteris wallichiana
- Semi-evergreen
- Partial or full shade
- Height: up to 1 m
- Soil: acid, neutral or alkaline. Moist, well-drained.
![](https://ferngardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Western-sword-fern-1024x683.jpg)
Western Sword fern
- Polystichum munitum
- Evergreen
- Partial or full shade
- Height: up to 1.5 m
- Soil: acid, neutral or alkaline. Moist, well-drained.
![](https://ferngardening.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Lip-fern.jpg)
Woolly lip fern
- Cheilanthes tomentosa
- Evergreen
- Full sun
- Height: up to 0.5 m
- Soil: acid or neutral. Moist, well-drained.