The following photos will allow you to identify ferns. Click on image to view plant details.
![Adiantum capillus veneris](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Adiantum-capillus-veneris-480x480.webp)
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)
![](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Adiantum-caudatum-480.jpg)
Walking Maidenhair, Tailed Maidenhair, Trailing Maidenhair
Origin: South Eastern Asia
![adiantum pedatum](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/adiantum-pedatum-480x480.jpg)
Northern Maidenhair Fern, Five-Finger Fern
Origin: North America
![adiantum raddianum](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/adiantum-raddianum-480x480.jpg)
Maidenhair Fern
Origin: South America
![Aglaomorpha Snake Leaf](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Aglaomorpha-Snake-Leaf-480x480.jpg)
Aglaomorpha "Snake Leaf"
Origin: Aglaomorpha coronans is native to China, Japan, Taiwan, Nepal, Thailand and Vietnam.
![](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Asplenium-antiquum-480.jpg)
Japanese Bird's-Nest Fern, Nest Fern
Origin: China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan
![](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Asplenium-ceterach-480.jpg)
Rustyback
Origin: Africa, Asia, Europe
![Asplenium nidus](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Asplenium.jpg)
Bird's-Nest Fern, Nest Fern
Origin: Tropical Africa, Australia and Polynesia
![](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Asplenium-nidus-Crissie-480.jpg)
Bird's-Nest Fern, Nest Fern
Origin: The wild type is native to tropical Africa, Australia and Polynesia.
![](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Asplenium-nidus-Fimbriatum-480.jpg)
Bird's-Nest Fern, Nest Fern
Origin: Asplenium nidus is native to tropical Africa, Australia and Polynesia.
![Asplenium ruta-muraria](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Asplenium-ruta-muraria.jpg)
Wall-Rue
Origin: Europe, North America
![Asplenium scolopendrium](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Asplenium-scolopendrium-1-480x480.jpg)
Hart's-Tongue Fern
Origin: Europe, North America, Eastern Asia
![](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Asplenium-trichomanes-480.jpg)
Maidenhair Spleenwort
Origin: Nearly global
![](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Athyrium-filix-femina-480-480x480.jpg)
Lady Fern
Origin: Africa, Asia, Europe, North America
![Athyrium niponicum](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Athyrium.jpg)
Japanese Painted Fern
Origin: None, "Metallicum" is a cultivar. Athyrium niponicum is native to China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan.
![blechnum spicant](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/blechnum-spicant-480x480.jpg)
Deer Fern, Hard Fern
Origin: Europe, Eastern Asia, North America
![bolbitis heudelotii](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/bolbitis-heudelotii-480x480.jpg)
Congo Fern, African Water Fern
Origin: Tropical Africa
![](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Ceratopteris.jpg)
Water Sprite
Origin: Africa, Asia, Australia
![](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Cycas-revoluta-480.jpg)
Sago Palm, King Sago
Origin: China, Japan
![cyrtomium falcatum](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/cyrtomium-falcatum-480x480.jpg)
Japanese Holly Fern
Origin: Eastern Asia
![](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Dicksonia-antarctica-480.jpg)
Soft Tree Fern, Man Fern
Origin: Australia
![Drynaria quercifolia](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Drynaria-quercifolia.jpg)
Oak-Leaf Fern, Basket Fern
Origin: South Eastern Asia, Australia
![](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/dryopteris-erythrosora.jpg)
Autumn Fern, Japanese Shield Fern
Origin: Eastern Asia
![Equisetum arvense](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Equisetum-arvense-8-480x480.jpg)
Common Corsetail, Field Corsetail
Origin: Asia, Europe, North America
![Hemionitis arifolia](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Hemionitis.jpg)
Heart Fern
Origin: Southeast Asia
![Lomariopsis lineata](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Lomariopsis-lineata-480x480.jpg)
Susswassertang
Origin: Tropical Asia
![Marsilea minuta](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Marsilea.jpg)
Clover Fern
Origin: Africa, Asia (India, Malaysia)
![microsorum musifolium](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/microsorum-musifolium.jpg)
Crocodile Fern
Origin: South Eastern Asia
![Microsorum musifolium](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Microsorum-musifolium.jpg)
Crocodile Fern
Origin: Tropical Asia
![Microsorum pteropus](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Microsorum-pteropus-480x480.jpg)
Java Fern
Origin: Subtropical to tropical Asia
![Microsorum thailandicum](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Microsorum-thailandicum.jpg)
Blue Fern, Strap Fern
Origin: Tropical and subtropical Asia
![Nephrolepis cordifolia](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Nephrolepis-cordifolia.jpg)
Sword Fern, Fishbone Fern
Origin: South Easern USA to South America, naturalized in Africa, Asia, Australia.
![Boston Fern](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Nephrolepis-exaltata-cv-7-480x480.jpg)
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
![Oceaniopteris gibba](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Oceaniopteris-gibba-480x480.webp)
Miniature Tree Fern
Origin: Oceania/South Sea (New Caledonia, Vanuatu)
Height: Up to 2 meters
![onoclea sensibilis](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/onoclea-sensibilis-480x480.jpg)
Sensitive Fern, Bead Fern
Origin: North America, Eastern Asia
![Phlebodium aureum](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Phlebodium-aureum-480x480.jpg)
Gold-Foot Fern, Golden Polypody
Origin: USA (Florida) to South America
![](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Polypodium-vulgare-480-480x480.jpg)
Common Polypody, Adder's Fern
Origin: Europe, Africa, Asia, North America, invasive in New Zealand
![Polystichum aculeatum](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Polystichum-aculeatum-480x480.webp)
Hard Shield-Fern
Origin: Africa, Asia, Europe
Height, habit: 50 to 90 centimeters, herbaceous plant
USDA zone: 5 (-9.4 °F/-23 °C)
![](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Polystichum-luctuosum-480.jpg)
Korean Rock Fern, Sorrowful Fern
Origin: South Africa, China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam
![Polystichum setiferum](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Polystichum-setiferum.jpg)
Soft Shield Fern, Hedge Fern
Origin: The wild type is native to Europe, Africa and Turkey.
![](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Pteridium-aquilinum-480-480x480.jpg)
Bracken Fern, Brake
Origin: Africa, Asia, Europe, North America
![Cretan Brake](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Pteris-cretica-5-480x480.jpg)
Cretan Brake, Ribbon Fern
Origin: Africa, Asia, Europe (France, Greece, Italy, Spain), North America (Mexico), Central America (Guatemala)
Height: 20 to 60 centimeters
![Pteris cretica Mayii](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Pteris-cretica-Mayii-480x480.jpg)
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
![](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Pteris-ensiformis-480.jpg)
Slender Brake, Silver Lace Fern
Origin: Asia (China, Japan, tropical Asia), Australia
![Pyrrosia confluens](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Pyrrosia-confluens-480x480.jpg)
Horseshoe Felt Fern, Robber Fern
Origin: Australia
![Dragon Scale Fern Pyrrosia piloselloides](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Dragon-Scale-Fern-Pyrrosia-piloselloides-480x480.webp)
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)
![](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Salvinia-auriculata-480.jpg)
Eared Watermoss, African Payal
Origin: Mexico to South America
![Salvinia molesta](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Salvinia-molesta-480x480.jpg)
Giant Salvinia, Kariba Weed
Origin: South America (probably), naturalized in other tropical and subtropical regions.
![](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Scyphularia-pentaphylla-480.jpg)
Black Caterpillar Fern
Origin: Java, New Guinea, Polynesia
![](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Selaginella-apoda-480.jpg)
Meadow Spikemoss
Origin: USA (Maine) to Guatemala
![](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Selaginella-denticulata-480.jpg)
Mediterranean Clubmoss
Origin: Mediterranean region
![Selaginella martensii Frosty](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Selaginella-martensii-Frosty-1-480x480.jpg)
Variegated Spike Moss, Martens's Spike Moss
Origin: The wild type is native to Central America (Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama).
![](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Selaginella-martensii-Variegata-480.jpg)
Variegated Spike Moss, Martens's Spike Moss
Origin: The wild type is native to Central America (Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama)
![](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Zamia-furfuracea-480.jpg)
Cardboard Palm, Mexican Cycad
Origin: Mexico
![Microsorum diversifolium](https://plantsam.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Microsorum-diversifolium-480x480.jpg)
Kangaroo Paw Fern
Origin: Australia, New Zealand