Wholesale Native Fern Plants for Shade Landscapes and Woodland Restoration
Our wholesale fern collection supplies native Eastern ferns in bulk to landscape contractors, garden centers, restoration crews and re-wholesalers who need dependable shade cover. Every fern is lifted as a dormant rhizome or crown and shipped bare root from Altamont, Tennessee, ready for woodland beds, shaded slopes, creek banks and north-facing foundation plantings.
Who Buys Wholesale Ferns
- Landscape contractors massing ferns under mature trees, along shaded walks and on north sides of buildings.
- Garden centers and re-wholesalers potting dormant crowns for spring shade-plant benches.
- Restoration and riparian crews adding a native fern layer to forest understory and streambank plantings.
- Market growers establishing ostrich fern beds for edible fiddlehead harvest.
Native Ferns Available Wholesale
| Plant | Botanical name | Typical trade uses |
|---|---|---|
| Ostrich Fern | Matteuccia struthiopteris | Tall shade borders, moist streambanks, mass plantings |
| Fiddlehead Fern | Matteuccia struthiopteris | Edible landscapes, fiddlehead production beds |
| Giant Ostrich Fern (Glade Fern) | Homalosorus pycnocarpos | Rich wooded slopes, ravines, woodland beds |
| Christmas Fern | Polystichum acrostichoides | Evergreen slope cover, winter interest |
| Lady Fern | Athyrium filix-femina | Moist shade beds, rain garden edges |
| Sensitive Fern | Onoclea sensibilis | Wet meadows, pond and ditch edges |
| Hay-Scented Fern | Dennstaedtia punctilobula | Groundcover on dry shaded banks |
| New York Fern | Thelypteris noveboracensis | Woodland groundcover, understory restoration |
| Maidenhair Fern | Adiantum pedatum | Fine-textured accents in rich shade |
| Walking Fern | Asplenium rhizophyllum | Rock gardens, mossy boulders, limestone outcrops |
Choosing Ferns by Moisture and Shade
Ostrich fern, fiddlehead fern, sensitive fern and lady fern want steady moisture and do their best along creeks, swales and low shaded ground. Glade fern, sold as Giant Ostrich Fern, prefers rich, well-drained woodland soil, while Christmas fern and hay-scented fern hold dry shaded slopes. Ferns are typically set 18 to 24 inches apart for groundcover and up to 3 feet for large ostrich fern clumps. Our fern companion plants guide and bare root fern planting article cover pairings and installation. Combine ferns with native woodland perennials or vines for a layered shade bed.
How We Grow, Dig and Ship
Fern rhizomes are lifted from Tennessee woodland beds, ours and those of trusted neighboring growers, after fronds yellow in fall. The crowns travel with roots wrapped in a Terra-Sorb gel and sealed in plastic, keeping them damp for up to 12 days. Large fern orders ride on freight trucks; smaller boxes go USPS Priority with tracking. Read about our bare root stock and fern packaging.
Ordering Wholesale Ferns
Need 500 or more of one fern? Send the list, delivery location and install week and expect a complete quote within a day covering freight, packing and pickup or delivery. Up to 100 per fern uses posted site pricing. Get fern pricing or start a prepaid trade account. Licensed buyers have our Arrive Alive guarantee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are fiddlehead fern and giant ostrich fern the same plant?
No. Our fiddlehead fern is ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris), grown for edible shoots, while Giant Ostrich Fern is glade fern (Homalosorus pycnocarpos), a separate woodland species.
Which fern stays green in winter?
Christmas fern keeps its evergreen fronds through winter, making it a favorite for year-round slope cover.
Which ferns handle wet ground?
Sensitive fern, ostrich fern and lady fern all tolerate consistently moist to wet soil.
Since 1959 our family has grown native plants in Altamont, Tennessee, and the third and fourth generations still dig our ferns. CEO Tammy Sons leads the nursery, and fern orders past 500 plants go straight to the owners. Our plants have been installed at the Washington Monument and Arlington National Cemetery. Write to sales@tennesseewholesalenursery.com or call 931-692-7325.