Plant Library
Types of ferns — 15 indoor and outdoor varieties
The 15 best types of ferns identified with care signals — boston, maidenhair, staghorn, bird nest, kimberly queen, asparagus, button, and more for shade gardens.
Types of ferns — 15 indoor and outdoor varieties
Ferns are one of the oldest plant lineages on earth — they were the dominant ground cover when dinosaurs walked around, and 360 million years of evolution has produced an enormous range of forms. The 15 types in this guide cover the ones you will actually see in US garden centers and nurseries, split between indoor varieties (boston, maidenhair, staghorn, button) and outdoor shade-garden varieties (ostrich, christmas, lady, japanese painted). Each entry has a care signal you can scan and a cross-link to our deep care page where one exists.
Identify your fern in 60 seconds: Photograph a frond with Growli and we will name the species plus give you a care plan calibrated to your humidity and light.
Why ferns are different from other houseplants
Ferns are non-flowering plants that reproduce via spores rather than seeds. They evolved under tree canopies and along streams — humid, shaded, consistently moist environments — and most modern fern care problems trace back to a single mismatch: dry indoor air. Average US home humidity in winter drops to 20–30 percent. Ferns want 50–70 percent.
Three other things separate ferns from typical houseplants:
- Fronds, not leaves. What looks like a single leaf on a fern is actually a frond — a compound structure made of many leaflets (pinnae). New fronds emerge as tightly coiled "fiddleheads" that unfurl over days.
- No flowers, no seeds. Ferns reproduce by spores released from sori on the undersides of mature fronds. Some species can be divided from rhizomes for easier propagation.
- Epiphytic or terrestrial. Some ferns (staghorn, birds nest) naturally grow on trees as epiphytes. Most grow in soil. The two groups want different potting media — staghorn wants sphagnum and bark; boston wants peat-based potting soil.
Indoor ferns
The varieties that tolerate American living rooms — which is to say, the most humidity-tolerant ferns. None are truly forgiving; all want more humidity than most homes provide. Bathrooms and kitchens are the easiest rooms.
1. Boston fern — Nephrolepis exaltata
The classic Victorian fern. Lush arching fronds on a compact plant. Pet-safe. Wants humidity and consistent moisture. Sword-shaped fronds with many small pinnae. Hangs beautifully from a basket or sits on a plant stand.
Care signal: Medium indirect light, keep moist, mist daily or run a humidifier. See /plant-care/boston-fern.
2. Kimberly queen fern — Nephrolepis obliterata
Boston fern's tougher cousin. More upright growth, slightly stiffer fronds, more tolerant of lower humidity. The best fern for typical American living rooms.
Care signal: Medium indirect light, keep moist, tolerates lower humidity than boston fern. See /plant-care/kimberly-queen-fern.
3. Maidenhair fern — Adiantum spp.
Delicate, lacy, fan-shaped pinnae on wiry black stems. The most beautiful fern in retail and famously difficult. Wants 60 percent humidity and never to dry out — even one missed watering causes crispy brown fronds.
Care signal: Bright indirect light, keep constantly moist with filtered water, humidity above 60 percent. See /plant-care/maidenhair-fern.
4. Staghorn fern — Platycerium spp.
Epiphytic fern mounted on a wood plaque or in a moss basket. Two leaf types — flat shield fronds at the base and antler-like fertile fronds on top. The most dramatic-looking fern in retail. Native to tropical Asia and Australia.
Care signal: Bright indirect light, soak the mount weekly, allow to dry between soakings. See /plant-care/staghorn-fern.
5. Bird's nest fern — Asplenium nidus
Distinct from most ferns. Solid undivided strap-like fronds emerging from a central rosette that looks like a bird's nest. Pet-safe. More tolerant of lower humidity than most ferns. Native to tropical Asia.
Care signal: Medium indirect light, water around the edge of the rosette (not into the center). Not in our care hub yet.
6. Button fern — Pellaea rotundifolia
Small round dark green pinnae along thin wiry stems. Compact, looks neat in terrariums and on shelves. More drought-tolerant than other indoor ferns thanks to its New Zealand origins.
Care signal: Medium indirect light, water when top inch dries. See /plant-care/button-fern.
7. Asparagus fern — Asparagus setaceus (also Asparagus densiflorus)
Not technically a fern — it is in the asparagus family and reproduces by seeds. But the feathery foliage is fern-like and it is sold and cared for as a fern. Several forms: lace fern (delicate), foxtail fern (upright plumes), sprenger fern (cascading).
Care signal: Medium to bright indirect light, water when top inch dries, mildly toxic if chewed. See /plant-care/asparagus-fern.
8. Crocodile fern — Microsorum musifolium
Long upright fronds with prominent puckered veining that genuinely looks like crocodile skin. Native to Southeast Asia. Less common but available at specialty plant shops.
Care signal: Medium indirect light, keep moist, high humidity. See /plant-care/crocodile-fern.
9. Rabbit's foot fern — Davallia fejeensis
Fuzzy creeping rhizomes that crawl over the soil surface and pot edge, resembling rabbit feet. Lacy delicate fronds emerge from the rhizomes. Best in a shallow pot where the rhizomes can spread visually.
Care signal: Medium indirect light, keep moist but never wet, high humidity. Not in our care hub yet.
10. Sword fern (indoor) — Nephrolepis cordifolia
Cousin of boston fern. More upright, narrower fronds. Sometimes sold interchangeably with boston fern but slightly less lush and slightly easier indoors.
Care signal: Medium indirect light, keep moist. See /plant-care/nephrolepis-cordifolia.
Outdoor ferns for shade gardens
Hardy ferns for North American shade gardens. Most prefer dappled shade, consistent moisture, and rich woodland soil. All are deciduous in cold climates (die back in winter, return from rhizomes in spring) unless noted.
11. Ostrich fern — Matteuccia struthiopteris
The classic woodland fern. Large vase-shaped clumps of feathery fronds reaching 3–6 feet tall. Native to North America and Eurasia. The fiddleheads are edible when cooked (boil 15 minutes or steam 10–12 minutes — raw fiddleheads can cause foodborne illness). Hardy zones 3–7.
Care signal: Part to full shade, consistent moisture, hardy outdoors. Deciduous. Not for indoor cultivation.
12. Lady fern — Athyrium filix-femina
Native to most of North America, Europe, and Asia. Lacy bright green fronds on red or green stems, 2–3 feet tall. More sun-tolerant than most ferns. Hardy zones 3–8.
Care signal: Part shade, consistent moisture, drought-tolerant once established. Deciduous.
13. Japanese painted fern — Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum'
The most colorful hardy fern. Silver-frosted fronds with burgundy and gray-purple veining. Compact 12–18 inch clumps. Native to Japan, Korea, and China. Hardy zones 3–8.
Care signal: Part to full shade, consistent moisture. Deciduous. The 2004 Perennial Plant of the Year.
14. Christmas fern — Polystichum acrostichoides
Native to eastern North America. Evergreen — keeps its dark green leathery fronds through winter, hence "christmas." Each pinna looks like a tiny christmas stocking. Hardy zones 3–9.
Care signal: Part to full shade, average moisture, drought-tolerant once established. Evergreen.
15. Autumn fern — Dryopteris erythrosora
New fronds emerge coppery-red in spring, mature to dark green, then sometimes flush red again in fall. Compact 18–24 inch clumps. Native to East Asia. Hardy zones 5–9, semi-evergreen.
Care signal: Part shade, consistent moisture. Semi-evergreen in mild winters.
Bonus: more ferns worth knowing
A few additional varieties that are common enough to mention but didn't quite make the top 15.
Western sword fern (Polystichum munitum) — Pacific Northwest native, similar to christmas fern but larger, hardy zones 6–9.
Cinnamon fern (Osmunda cinnamomea) — large native woodland fern with cinnamon-colored fertile spikes in spring, hardy zones 3–9.
Royal fern (Osmunda regalis) — wetland fern that thrives in standing water at pond edges, hardy zones 3–9.
Hart's tongue fern (Asplenium scolopendrium) — unusual fern with strap-like undivided fronds resembling a tongue, hardy zones 5–9.
Holly fern (Cyrtomium falcatum) — glossy holly-like leaflets on arching fronds, evergreen indoors and out in zones 7+.
How to choose the right fern for your situation
The choice splits cleanly between indoor and outdoor first, then by light and humidity from there.
For indoor cultivation in a typical American home (winter humidity 20–30 percent, temperatures 65–75°F), kimberly queen and bird's nest fern are the two most realistic choices. Both tolerate lower humidity than most ferns. Boston fern works if you can give it a bathroom with a window or a kitchen with regular cooking steam. Skip maidenhair fern entirely unless you commit to a humidifier — beautiful as it is, it is famously dramatic and will turn crispy in dry indoor air.
For a bathroom with a window that gets indirect light, maidenhair, staghorn, and boston ferns all thrive thanks to the shower steam. This is the single best indoor location for any fern.
For an outdoor shade garden in zones 3–7, ostrich and lady fern are the most established and the easiest to find at local nurseries. Both reach 2–6 feet and spread by rhizomes. Christmas fern adds evergreen interest through winter. Japanese painted fern is the showpiece — burgundy and silver foliage that pairs beautifully with hostas and bleeding hearts in a woodland border.
For a shaded outdoor container on a covered porch, autumn fern, japanese painted fern, and christmas fern all do well. Containers dry out faster than ground plantings, so check moisture every 2–3 days.
See our low-light plants list for non-fern alternatives in dim indoor rooms, and the pet-safe houseplants guide if you need pet-safe indoor varieties (boston fern, kimberly queen, button fern, and birds nest fern are all on the ASPCA non-toxic list).
Common care across the category
Every fern in this guide shares three needs. First, indirect light — direct afternoon sun scorches fern fronds within hours. Bright indirect light (filtered through a sheer curtain or under a tree canopy outdoors) is ideal. Second, consistent moisture — ferns rarely tolerate the dry-out cycles that succulents and even most foliage plants accept. Keep the top inch of soil consistently damp but not waterlogged. Third, humidity — outdoor ferns get this from the air; indoor ferns rarely do unless you provide it via a humidifier, pebble tray, or by grouping plants together. Misting helps short-term but evaporates within minutes.
Brown crispy frond tips are the universal fern problem and the universal answer is the same: increase humidity, water more consistently, or both. See houseplant diseases for the diagnostic walkthrough.
Try Growli: Snap a photo with Growli — get instant ID and a care plan in 60 seconds.
Related articles
- Types of houseplants — 30+ varieties — the broader category
- Low-light plants — 12 tested for dim rooms — fern alternatives for low light
- Pet-safe houseplants — 20 non-toxic plants — most ferns are pet-safe
- Common houseplant diseases — for crispy frond troubleshooting
- Identify a houseplant — 4 methods — for fern species ID
- Boston fern care — full care page
- Maidenhair fern care — full care page
Reviewed and updated by the Growli editorial team. For questions about anything here, open Growli and ask — or email hello@getgrowli.app.
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest type of fern to grow indoors?
Kimberly queen fern is the most forgiving indoor fern. It tolerates lower humidity than boston fern (its closest relative) and handles average American living room conditions better than most fern species. Bird's nest fern and button fern are close runners-up. Avoid maidenhair fern as a first fern — it is famously difficult.
What is the most beautiful fern?
Maidenhair fern is widely considered the most beautiful — delicate, lacy, fan-shaped pinnae on jet-black wiry stems. Japanese painted fern is the most striking hardy outdoor fern, with silver-frosted fronds and burgundy veining. Staghorn fern is the most dramatic and architectural, mounted on a wood plaque like living art.
Are ferns safe for cats and dogs?
Most true ferns are safe. Boston fern, kimberly queen, button fern, birds nest fern, staghorn fern, and maidenhair fern are all on the ASPCA non-toxic list. The exception is asparagus fern (which is not a true fern) — it is mildly toxic if chewed. See our [pet-safe houseplants guide](/blog/pet-safe-houseplants) for the complete pet-safe list.
Why are my fern fronds turning brown and crispy?
Three usual causes. Low humidity is the most common — fronds dry out faster than the plant can replace moisture. Increase humidity with a humidifier or pebble tray. Underwatering is second — ferns suffer fast when the soil dries fully. Direct sun is third — afternoon sun scorches fronds within hours. See [houseplant diseases](/blog/houseplant-diseases) for the diagnostic walkthrough.
How often should I water a fern?
Indoor ferns need the top inch of soil to stay consistently damp — typically watering every 3–5 days in a 6-inch pot. Outdoor garden ferns need 1 inch of water per week from rain or irrigation. Never let any fern dry out completely; even one full dry-out causes crispy fronds. Use filtered or rainwater for maidenhair fern — tap water mineral buildup damages the delicate fronds.
What fern is best for a shaded outdoor garden?
Ostrich fern is the classic woodland choice — 3–6 feet tall, vase-shaped, native to North America, hardy to zone 3. Lady fern is more sun-tolerant. Japanese painted fern adds color with silver-frosted burgundy foliage. Christmas fern is evergreen and works in dry shade. Pick by your zone and the specific shade conditions — dry shade and damp shade favor different species.
Can you grow ferns from spores?
Yes, but it takes patience. Spores collected from mature fronds germinate on damp moss or sterile soil over 4–6 weeks, then develop into prothalli (tiny heart-shaped plates) over another 1–3 months, then finally produce true ferns over a year or more. Division of mature plants is dramatically faster — most ferns can be split in early spring.
Are ferns evergreen?
Most indoor ferns (boston, kimberly queen, birds nest, staghorn, button, maidenhair) are evergreen and keep their fronds year-round. Most outdoor hardy ferns (ostrich, lady, japanese painted) are deciduous — they die back in winter and return from rhizomes in spring. Christmas fern and holly fern are notable exceptions — both stay green through winter outdoors in zones 5–9.