There have been a lot of "new" ferns brought to market in the past decade through the use of tissue culture, but it’s hard to beat the old tried & true autumn fern (Dryopteris erythrosora) for a shady spot in the garden. This evergreen fern reaches 2 feet tall and is easy to grow in rich woodland soil that is moist but well-draining. Hardy from Zones 5 - 8.