Osmunda cinnamomea

I photographed this plant in Purdon Conservation Area.

Onoclea sensibilis fronds

Onoclea sensibilis, known in English as "sensitive fern" or "bead fern" and in French as onoclée sensible, is a perennial fern native to North America and east Asia. The name "sensitive" refers to its sensitivity to frost, and I think the name "bead fern" refers to the appearance of the fertile fronds.

Sensitive fern was the first fern I learned to recognize. Its coarse fronds are quite different from the other native ferns in our area.

Sensitive fern grows in moist areas. I photographed these ferns at Purdon Conservation Area.

Osmunda regalis

Osmunda regalis, known in English as "royal fern" or "flowering fern" and in French as osmonde royale, fougère royale or fougère fleurie, is a beautiful fern native to the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa. (The name "flowering fern" refers to the appearance of the fertile fronds, not actual flowers.)

I found this beautiful plant growing wild in a local ravine; unfortunately it was out of reach so I couldn't pull the garlic mustard growing through it.

Athyrium niponicum var. pictum 'Applecourt'

Athyrium niponicum var. pictum, known in English as "Japanese painted fern" and in French as fougère peinte, is a fern native to east Asia with beautifully coloured fronds.

My landlords' son got this beauty for the front shade garden (which we are hoping will replace the lawn eventually) at Valumart on the Danforth.

Adiantum aethiopicum

Adiantum aethiopicum spp, known in English as common maidenhair fern is a tropical perennial fern native to Africa, New Zealand and Australia. The fronds have delicate fan-shaped leaflets on black, hair-like stems.

In Toronto, this maidenhair can be grown only indoors (I photographed this speciment at Allan Gardens); however, there is another beautiful maidenhair fern, Adiantum pedatum, which is a Canadian native growing across the country from Newfoundland and Labrador to British Columbia.