For those seeking a more traditional look, the lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina) is a classic option. It's both delicate and hardy, tolerating a wide range of conditions, from wet soils to drier ones.

Japanese painted fern (Athyrium filix-femina) is a small, well-behaved fern that makes a graceful addition to shade garden plants. It won’t grow too big or too rambunctious. Instead, it beckons ...