Looking for the full list of ferns to learn more about the category? Discover the species and key groups here, from common terrestrial plants to tree and aquatic varieties.
POPULARBird's nest ferns
Asplenium nidus
POPULARSouthern Sword Fern
Nephrolepis exaltata
-1-200x150.webp)
POPULARTasmanian tree fern
Dicksonia antarctica
POPULARBlue star fern
Phlebodium aureum
POPULARJapanese bird's-nest fern
Asplenium antiquum
Rose of Jericho
Selaginella lepidophylla
Peacock Moss
Selaginella uncinata
Tuberous sword fern
Nephrolepis cordifolia
Elkhorn Fern
Platycerium bifurcatum
Ribbon Ferns
Pteris cretica
Peacock Fern
Selaginella willdenowii
Staghorn Fern
Platycerium superbum
Krauss's Clubmoss
Selaginella kraussiana
Bolbitis heteroclita
Bolbitis heteroclita
Meadow spikemoss
Selaginella apoda
Delta maidenhair fern
Adiantum raddianum
slender brake
Pteris ensiformis
Floating fern
Salvinia natans
Selaginella erythropus
Selaginella erythropus
Angola staghorn fern
Platycerium elephantotis
Black maidenhair fern
Adiantum capillus-veneris
Holly Fern
Cyrtomium falcatum
Autumn fern
Dryopteris erythrosora
Huperzia squarrosa
Huperzia squarrosa
Platycerium coronarium
Platycerium coronarium
Selaginella tamariscina
Selaginella tamariscina
Water sprite
Ceratopteris thalictroides
Cloak Fern
Didymochlaena truncatula
mother fern
Asplenium bulbiferum
maidenhair spleenwort
Asplenium trichomanes
hart's-tongue fern
Asplenium scolopendrium
Deer Fern
Blechnum spicant
golden chicken fern
Cibotium barometz
peltate tonguefern
Elaphoglossum peltatum
Rough horsetail
Equisetum hyemale
variegated spikemoss
Selaginella martensii
field horsetail
Equisetum arvense
western swordfern
Polystichum munitum
Christmas fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
Lady-fern
Athyrium filix-femina
Northern maidenhair fern
Adiantum pedatum
Bracken
Pteridium aquilinum
Royal Fern
Osmunda regalis
giant chainfern
Woodwardia fimbriata
iron fern
Rumohra adiantiformis
toothed clubmoss
Huperzia serrata
marginal woodfern
Dryopteris marginalis
water fern
Azolla filiculoides
sensitive fern
Onoclea sensibilis
Java fern
Leptochilus pteropus
Soft Shield Fern
Polystichum setiferum
Japanese painted fern
Athyrium niponicum
eastern hayscented fern
Dennstaedtia punctilobula
common polypody
Polypodium vulgare
Oriental vessel fern
Angiopteris evecta
Microsorum musifolium
Microsorum musifolium
five-finger fern
Adiantum aleuticum
Autumn Fern
Dryopteris erythrosora 'Brilliance'
common maidenhair fern
Adiantum aethiopicum
Elkhorn fern
Microsorum punctatum
Download our free app and get access to thousands of plants database with AI-powered identification
Ferns are vascular plants, meaning they have internal systems for moving water and nutrients, like trees and flowering plants. However, they produce spores, not seeds or flowers, and depend on moisture to reproduce. That is why they're so common in humid, shaded environments.
They're also ancient. These plants appeared over 360 million years ago, hundreds of millions of years before the first flowering plant. Around 10,500 species exist today, making them the second-largest group of vascular plants on Earth.
Some fern names will be familiar. For example, Bird's Nest and Southern sword are common houseplants. Others are less expected, like the water-dwelling Floating Fern or the vivid Blue Star.
Ferns release microscopic cells called spores from patches on the undersides of their fronds to reproduce. A spore landing in moist soil grows into a tiny new plant, which produces sperm and egg cells. Sperm must swim through a thin film of water to reach the egg.
Life Cycle Stage | Structure Formed | Key Detail |
Spore release | Sori — spore-bearing patches on the frond underside | A single frond can release millions of spores |
Germination | Gametophyte — a flat, heart-shaped plant | Grows to just 2–5 mm; lives weeks to months |
Fertilization | Zygote — fertilized egg cell | Sperm travels only millimeters through water |
Sporophyte growth | Sporophyte — the full-grown plant with fronds | Long-lived, some species survive for decades |
Unlike flowering plants that evolved pollen and can spread across dry habitats, ferns can grow and reproduce only in humid environments.
The names of ferns in the list above cover all four main groups: tree, epiphytic, aquatic, and terrestrial species.
Tree species grow a trunk-like stem and can reach up to 20 meters tall. The Tasmanian Tree Fern is a well-known example.
Epiphytic species attach to other plants and absorb moisture from air and rain rather than soil, like the Elkhorn Fern.
Aquatic plants grow in or on water, from ponds to flooded rice fields. Terrestrial ones cover shaded woodlands and rocky slopes, making up the vast majority of all 10,500 known species.
6 min read · 15 Sept 2026
Plants can grow under artificial light when the setup provides a suitable spectrum, enough intensity, and sufficient daily exposure. This guide explains how artificial lighting compares with sunlight, which options work indoors, and how to match a setup to houseplants.
10 min read · 8 Jun 2026
Basil is easy to grow, but small mistakes like overwatering or cold damage can cause black spots. If you notice them, diagnose the cause and use BotanApp for quick care instructions.
8 min read · 31 Jul 2026
To keep plants healthy and thriving, provide the right balance of light, humidity, nutrients, airflow, and quality soil. This guide covers the essentials of year-round plant care.
