How Cold Can Ferns Tolerate and 5 Best Cold Tolerant Fern
Few varieties of ferns are cold tolerable where they can survive even – 15°F atmosphere as well.
So if you are living in a cold country and want to have cold tolerant fern for your home garden, then this article is the right place for you.
Because in this article, I’ll tell you whether fern tolerates cold or not so that you have an idea about this.
Similarly I will provide top 5 cold tolerant ferns for you to have in your home garden. So let’s begin.
Can Ferns Survive in the Cold?
Yes, surprisingly there are few varieties of ferns which are cold tolerant. This ferns are basically adapt with the native habitats that’s why they can tolerate cold to some extent
On average, few species of ferns can tolerate colds in between 50 degree Fahrenheit to minus 20 degree Fahrenheit (50°F to – 20°F).
Can Ferns Survive in Frost?
Ferns are somehow considered one of the elegant plants because of their delicate appearances. However these ferns cannot tolerate frost although they can somehow tolerate cold.
There are very rare species which can survive the very low deep freezing conditions around a certain period of time. They will die somehow in the excessive cold frozen season.
In general some ferns like eastern sword ferns can tolerate minus 15 degrees fahrenheit (-15F) and hardy wood ferns can tolerate minus 20 degrees fahrenheit (-20F).
Lists of Cold Tolerant Ferns
Let’s look at those ferns who can tolerate cold or have cold adaptable features.
1. Hardy Wood Ferns
- Botanic name : Dryopteris marginalis
- Common name: Wood ferns
- Plant: Perennial
- Native range: North America
- Light: partial sun or filtered sun, shade
- Height: around 1 to 3 ft
- Soil: rich organic matter, soil, moist well drained
- Zone : 3 to 9
Hardy Wood ferns are frosty ferns which have cold tolerant adaptability. This fern is usually native to North America.
Due to their natural environment, these ferns can tolerate below minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit situations.
Similarly these hardy wood ferns have green foliage and bold texture, existing species on average 200 species under this genus which makes these ferns one of the largest ferns genus among other ferns species.
2. Eastern Sword Ferns
- Botanical names: Polystichum munitum
- Plants: evergreen perennial
- Native range: North America, Southern Alaska, Southern California
- Native habitats: woodlands
- Shade requirements:
- Height: around 1.5 meters long (indoors) and 2 to 4 feet tall (outdoors)
- Soil: acidic soil, well-drained
- Hardiness zone: 5 to 9
Eastern sword ferns are other frosty evergreen perennial ferns which also have a cold tolerance of minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit.
These ferns have dark green foliage which can grow up to 15 to 180 cm long with a radially round shape format. They can also tolerate drought to some extent.
3. Western Polypody
- Botanical name: Polypodium hesperium
- Family: Polypodiaceae
- Plants: Perennial plants
- Native range: North America
- Native habitats: cliffs, gardens, rocky places, sand dunes, seaside and woodlands
- Shade requirements: partial, indirect sunlight
- Height: around 9 to 13 14 inches
- Soil: acidic, neutral
Western sword fern are European evergreen ferns which have cold tolerant adaptability. Usually, European ferns tend to have cold tolerance in their characteristics because of their natural habitats.
That’s why this species of ferns can tolerate zero degrees fahrenheit temperature. That’s why they can survive a certain period of dryness but not longer than it.
Similarly, these fern species can also grow up to 6 feet tall if they get their ideal condition of living aa they prefer moist coniferous woodlands that keep their soil well hydrated.
4. Staghorn Ferns
- Botanic name: Platycerium bifurcatum
- Family: Polypodiaceae
- Plant: Perennial evergreen
- Native range: Java, New Guinea, Eastern Australia, South Wales, Queensland
- Height: around 35 inches
- Width: around 31 inches
- Shade: partial
- Soil: acidic, neutral
- Hardiness zone: 9,10,11,12
Staghorn Ferns are tropical perennial evergreen plants which are currently remaining in 17 different species in Asia and Australia.
These ferns are also cold tolerant as they can tolerate as low as 45 degrees fahrenheit temperatures around themselves.
These staghorn ferns are very common to grow and plant as home cultivation because. You can grow these ferns on wood planks or any hanging baskets.
Additionally, this can grow without soil on any wood planks or tree trunks. In order to thrive, staghorn fern needs a subtropical natural environment such as dappled atmosphere, moisture, and indirect sunlight.
5. Boston Fern
- Botanical name: Nephrolepis exaltata
- Common names: sword fern, blue bell Fern, tuber ladder Fern, fishbone Fern
- Plants : Evergreen
- Native range: America
- Native habitats: moist shady location like humid forest, swamps, floodplains
- Shade requirements: partial shade or full shade
- Height: 20 to 98 inches
- Soil: acidic soil (6.0 to 6.5), moist well-drained, drought tolerant
Boston Fern is another tropical ferns which have cold tolerant adaptability in them. As they are native to America, therefore they can tolerate minus 20 degree Fahrenheit in the atmosphere.
However, their ideal temperature would be in between 50 degree Fahrenheit. Similarly, Their average height is around 40 to 60 centimeters. However in extreme cases, they can grow up to 1.5 meters in.
They really like moist shady places for their natural habitats. Nonetheless, their soil can also tolerate drought as they are also cold tolerant plants. Still, they will need 80% humidity.
Know About More in This Species: Caring of Boston Fern
Conclusion
In short, ferns are cold tolerant however they cannot tolerate extreme frosty weather. Some varieties of ferns can tolerate below -15 or -20 °F temperature in the atmosphere.
Similarly, ferns like boston, hardy wood, Easter sword, western sword and western polypody ferns are one of the suitable cold tolerant fern which can survive in the cold weather.
