East Texas is a bountiful area with many native plants that we can incorporate into our home landscapes. Native ferns abound and, with just a little know-how, we can transplant them to a new location.
Many of our native ferns are termed "wood ferns," but there are actually many different species in our area. Whichever type appeals to you is the species you should seek out and take home. Along a creek bed or marshy low area you're sure to see graceful ferns in abundance. (Of course, you should have the landowner's permission and never remove plants from public parks or forests.)
Once you have located some nice, healthy-looking plants, use a sharpshooter spade and dig straight down all around the plant, then lift it gently. Ferns often grow very close together so two or more plants may come out at once. Keep the ferns damp until they are transplanted and make sure the roots are not exposed to the sun.
At their new location, choose a planting spot that is as close to their natural habitat as possible. A shady place that gets watered often is ideal.
With the first cold snap, your ferns will droop, turn brown, and sag to the ground. Leave the old growth on as it protects the new tips that will appear in the spring. Then, trim off the old growth and your ferns will thrive and add new shoots. Except during extreme or prolonged freezes, native ferns are perennial. So if you do lose some one year, well the woods are full of them.
Patricia Massad, Smith County Master Gardener
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