The following photos will allow you to identify ferns. Click on image to view plant details.
Maidenhair Fern
Origin: Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, South America
Height, habit: 20 to 40 centimeters, herbaceous plant
USDA zone: 9 (28.4 °F/-2 °C)
Walking Maidenhair, Tailed Maidenhair, Trailing Maidenhair
Origin: South Eastern Asia
Northern Maidenhair Fern, Five-Finger Fern
Origin: North America
Maidenhair Fern
Origin: South America
Aglaomorpha "Snake Leaf"
Origin: Aglaomorpha coronans is native to China, Japan, Taiwan, Nepal, Thailand and Vietnam.
Japanese Bird's-Nest Fern, Nest Fern
Origin: China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan
Rustyback
Origin: Africa, Asia, Europe
Bird's-Nest Fern, Nest Fern
Origin: Tropical Africa, Australia and Polynesia
Bird's-Nest Fern, Nest Fern
Origin: The wild type is native to tropical Africa, Australia and Polynesia.
Bird's-Nest Fern, Nest Fern
Origin: Asplenium nidus is native to tropical Africa, Australia and Polynesia.
Wall-Rue
Origin: Europe, North America
Hart's-Tongue Fern
Origin: Europe, North America, Eastern Asia
Maidenhair Spleenwort
Origin: Nearly global
Lady Fern
Origin: Africa, Asia, Europe, North America
Japanese Painted Fern
Origin: None, "Metallicum" is a cultivar. Athyrium niponicum is native to China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan.
Deer Fern, Hard Fern
Origin: Europe, Eastern Asia, North America
Congo Fern, African Water Fern
Origin: Tropical Africa
Water Sprite
Origin: Africa, Asia, Australia
Sago Palm, King Sago
Origin: China, Japan
Japanese Holly Fern
Origin: Eastern Asia
Soft Tree Fern, Man Fern
Origin: Australia
Oak-Leaf Fern, Basket Fern
Origin: South Eastern Asia, Australia
Autumn Fern, Japanese Shield Fern
Origin: Eastern Asia
Common Corsetail, Field Corsetail
Origin: Asia, Europe, North America
Heart Fern
Origin: Southeast Asia
Susswassertang
Origin: Tropical Asia
Clover Fern
Origin: Africa, Asia (India, Malaysia)
Crocodile Fern
Origin: South Eastern Asia
Crocodile Fern
Origin: Tropical Asia
Java Fern
Origin: Subtropical to tropical Asia
Blue Fern, Strap Fern
Origin: Tropical and subtropical Asia
Sword Fern, Fishbone Fern
Origin: South Easern USA to South America, naturalized in Africa, Asia, Australia.
Sword Fern, Boston Fern, Boston Sword Fern
Origin: The wild type is native to North America (USA/Florida, Mexico), South America (Brazil, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, French Guiana, Puerto Rico).
Height: 30 to 100 centimeters
Miniature Tree Fern
Origin: Oceania/South Sea (New Caledonia, Vanuatu)
Height: Up to 2 meters
Sensitive Fern, Bead Fern
Origin: North America, Eastern Asia
Gold-Foot Fern, Golden Polypody
Origin: USA (Florida) to South America
Common Polypody, Adder's Fern
Origin: Europe, Africa, Asia, North America, invasive in New Zealand
Hard Shield-Fern
Origin: Africa, Asia, Europe
Height, habit: 50 to 90 centimeters, herbaceous plant
USDA zone: 5 (-9.4 °F/-23 °C)
Korean Rock Fern, Sorrowful Fern
Origin: South Africa, China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam
Soft Shield Fern, Hedge Fern
Origin: The wild type is native to Europe, Africa and Turkey.
Bracken Fern, Brake
Origin: Africa, Asia, Europe, North America
Cretan Brake, Ribbon Fern
Origin: Africa, Asia, Europe (France, Greece, Italy, Spain), North America (Mexico), Central America (Guatemala)
Height: 20 to 60 centimeters
Cretan Brake, Ribbon Fern
Origin: The wild type is native to Africa, Asia, Europe (France, Greece, Italy, Spain), North America (Mexico), Central America (Guatemala).
Height: 20 to 60 centimeters
Slender Brake, Silver Lace Fern
Origin: Asia (China, Japan, tropical Asia), Australia
Horseshoe Felt Fern, Robber Fern
Origin: Australia
Dragon Scale Fern, Dragon Scales, Dragon's Scale Fern
Origin: Asia (China, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand)
Height: The creeping rhizomes can grow up to 50 centimeters long.
USDA zone: 12 (50 F/10 °C)
Eared Watermoss, African Payal
Origin: Mexico to South America
Giant Salvinia, Kariba Weed
Origin: South America (probably), naturalized in other tropical and subtropical regions.
Black Caterpillar Fern
Origin: Java, New Guinea, Polynesia
Meadow Spikemoss
Origin: USA (Maine) to Guatemala
Mediterranean Clubmoss
Origin: Mediterranean region
Variegated Spike Moss, Martens's Spike Moss
Origin: The wild type is native to Central America (Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama).
Variegated Spike Moss, Martens's Spike Moss
Origin: The wild type is native to Central America (Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama)
Cardboard Palm, Mexican Cycad
Origin: Mexico
Kangaroo Paw Fern
Origin: Australia, New Zealand