Most of the fern species prefer shaded areas with moist soil, and these can be combined underneath a shade-giving tree for a spectacular look.
Most species of fern are purely green, while other types of fern, such as cinnamon and Japanese painted, offer vivid colors to a shady garden.
Fern identification is often hard to do, as many species of fern look very similar.
The easiest type of fern identification is close inspection of the orientation of the fronds and the leaves growing off the sides.
Many types of ferns, while looking similar at first glance, will become very different indeed when inspected thoroughly.
For information about the several types of ferns available for home gardens, the Internet is a wonderful tool. Many websites hosted by nurseries offer information on the types of ferns, and may even have ferns for sale.
Another source of information on the various types of ferns would be any local library. Many books have been compiling the species of fern that are available in various regions of the world.