How are ferns used in horticulture?

Ferns are of significant economic value in horticulture, where large nurseries supply millions of plants annually for indoor decoration, outdoor gardens, and landscaping.1

Indoor and Decorative Use

Many ferns are popular as houseplants due to their diverse forms and textures. Common varieties include:
* Parlour ferns: Such as the sword fern (Nephrolepis), holly fern (Cyrtomium), and leatherleaf fern (Rumohra).2
* Terrarium subjects: Species like Pteris and Pellaea (table ferns) are ideal for terraria in their younger stages, while Selaginella (club moss) thrives in warm, moist environments.2
* Specimen plants: The staghorn fern is prized for its unique, antler-like fronds, and the bird’s-nest fern is valued for its rosette of parchment-textured leaves.2

Outdoor and Specialized Use

• Ornamental gardening: Species such as the lady fern are widely cultivated for their feathery, circular clusters in moist, semi-shaded areas.3
• Tree ferns: These are cultivated in greenhouses and conservatories. Additionally, the fibrous root mantle of tree ferns is used as "orchid bark," a nonrotting substrate for cultivating epiphytic plants.4