Written by Rona Wheeldon
April 24, 2017
In this month’s Product Profile, we’re taking a look at ferns. We'll focus on potted plants, but we'll also cover ferns as cut foliage and even artificial!
With the trend for houseplants continuing to gather momentum and Pantone’s Colour of the Year for 2017 being greenery, lush ferns are ‘all the rage’. And a very popular variety is Nephrolepis, also known as Boston Fern, pictured above.
Background
In vogue in Victorian times, ferns are making a real comeback, not only in the worlds of floristry and gardening, but also fashion and interior design. There are so many different varieties including Adiantum, Asplenium, Asparagus, Phlebodium, Polystichum, Nephrolepis and Pteris, to name but a few.
Their leaves, botanically known as fronds, add an air of freshness and coolness to a space. And Boston Ferns, in particular, have the ability to remove certain chemical pollutants from the air.
Types
PLANTS
Potted ferns are available at our plant wholesalers in a range of different sizes. For example, 18, 15, 10 or 6 in a tray. The majority of the trays on sale are of one individual type of plant, referred to as Singles, and as shown below at Quality Plants. But there is also a selection of trays of Mixed. And some of the larger specimen plants are available to purchase individually.
Singles
Adiantum (Maidenhair Fern)
Asplenium (Bird's Nest Fern)
Asplenium 'Crispy Wave'
Asparagus Sprengeri
Asparagus setaceus (Asparagus Fern)
Phlebodium
Polystichum polyblepharum
Nephrolepis (Boston Fern)
Mixed
Mixed ferns at Evergreen – Asplenium, Dryopteris, Polystichum and Polypodium.
Mixed Pteris at Arnott & Mason
CUT FOLIAGE
You'll find ferns as cut foliage available at our foliage traders, including asparagus fern, phlebodium, umbrella fern, leather leaf, foxtail fern and Boston Fern (which is also sometimes referred to as ladder fern or sharon fern). The varieties below, in particular, are available at Porters Foliage. You may need to ask specifically for some of them as they'll be in cold storage, as opposed to on general display.
Sprayed varieties of fern, sometimes with a touch of sparkle, can also be found at the Flower Market from the end of September to the end of December. Sprayed asparagus fern in particular has proven to be a big hit over the last few years!
Natural
Asparagus Fern
Phlebodium (Blue Fern)
Sprayed
Asparagus Fern
Coral Fern
Leather Leaf
ARTIFICIAL
In their new 'Greenery Avenue', C Best have a selection of artificial ferns including...
Artificial Boston Fern Bush
Artificial Fern Plant
General Advice
Care wise, as plants, the compost needs to be kept moist at all times and never allowed to dry out. Ferns also love moist air, so mist plants regularly. And keep them in good indirect light, but not in direct sunlight.
There are several new books about houseplants which you may like to check out for care notes about individual varieties of ferns:
At Home with Plants - Ian Drummond & Kara O'Reilly
House Plants - Isabelle Palmer
House of Plants - Caro Langton & Rose Ray
How Not to Kill Your Plants - Nik Southern/Grace & Thorn - Published in June 2017
Design Inspiration
Ferns, as potted plants, are ideal for adding a touch of lushness to a contract design or event. And Adiantum (maidenhair fern) loves being housed in terrariums, where humidity is naturally high. Plus, those that have a trailing tendency look wonderful in hanging pots.
With regards to ferns as cut foliage, the asparagus fern is very much leading the way, from being incorporated into hand-tied bouquets and mantelpiece arrangements, to decorating stair banisters.
Here are some examples of beautiful designs featuring ferns both as plants and cut foliage...
PLANTS
(Source : SuperNature Flowers)
(Source : Grace & Thorn)
(Source : The Flower Bird)
(Source : Amanda Austin Flowers)
(Source : Grace & Thorn)
(Source : Zita Elze)
(Source : Botanique Workshop)
(Source : Mary Jane Vaughan)
(Source : Grace & Thorn)
(Source : Hiding in the City Flowers)
(Source : Larry Walshe)
(Source : Botanique Workshop)
(Source : Simon Nickell Design)
(Source : Botanique Workshop)
(Source : All For Love London)
(Source : Urban Flower Company)
(Source : Indeco Flowers)
(Source : Botanique Workshop)
(Source : Joanne Truby Floral Design)
Your Designs
We'd love to see photos of designs that you've made using ferns from New Covent Garden Flower Market. Simply send an email to info@cgma.co.uk, stating your company name and website address. Or if you prefer, you could post your photo on Instagram or Twitter and tag us with @MarketFlowers. We'll then upload your photos into this section.
(Source: MeadowSweet)
I hope you've enjoyed reading this month's Product Profile. Please do ask away below if you have any questions or would like to make any general comments. As always, we'd love to hear from you...
P.S. If you're a huge botanicals fan, then you may like to check out photographers India & Magnus from Haarkon's incredibly beautiful Instagram account, @haarkon_.
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