Fern evaluations from CBG

I have been following the Plant Evaluation Notes from the Chicago Botanic Garden for so many years that I no longer remember when I first discovered them nor when I first heard the director of CBG's Plant Evaluation Program, Richard Hawke, give a talk in Madison. Suffice it to say that the published findings of the program under Hawke are one of the top resources for gardeners in the Upper Midwest. 

If you are unfamiliar with it, CBG's Plant Evaluation Program is one of the "largest and most diverse in the nation," according to the recent PR information they emailed me. They noted it is also one of the few programs in the U.S. that formally evaluates perennials. Typically most of us are the ones evaluating perennials in our gardens and sharing the results with gardening friends.

This is the one place I know to find reliable data on a long list of perennials suitable for our area. The latest study — on Lady Ferns and Japanese Painted Ferns — is number 39 in the series. The fern report is ten pages long! I am growing a number of the ferns evaluated which makes this particular report both interesting and useful for me.

Athyrium 'Branford Rambler'  below / Photo by Richard Hawke

Richard Hawke points out that catalogs and magazines showcase the hot, new plants, but he is "all about the tried-and-true."  

The goal of CBG's program is "to determine, through scientific evaluation, which plants are superior for gardens in the Upper Midwest. Plants are rated on ornamental qualities, cultural adaptability, winter hardiness, and disease and pest resistance. It is the intent of the program to study and recommend plants that are readily available in area nurseries. Study results are published and reported to both the professional industry and the gardening public." What more could you ask?

Among the pperennials CBG has evaluated over the years are small leafed Rhododendrons, boxwoods, clematis, shrub roses, and Monarda and powdery mildew resistance to name a few. The plant trials last four years for perennials, six for shrubs and vines and seven to ten years for trees.

 

Athyrium 'Branford Beauty' / Photo by Jessie V. Stevens

Among the results of the fern evaluations:

• Winter hardiness was generally not an issue for the evaluation group — only Athyrium filix-femina ‘Plumosum Axminster’ suffered plant losses in two winters. 
• The uniqueness of each Japanese painted fern cultivar was often indiscernible at a glance. (Something those of us who grow this fern can attest to.)
• Athyrium filix-femina ‘Frizelliae’ aka tatting fern: Athough reputedly prone to reversion, ‘Frizelliae’ remained true to type throughout the trial. (Mine is always reverting.)

Here's what the report has to say about the gorgeous fern pictured below: 

"Athyrium filix-femina ‘Encourage’ was one of the top performers in the trial. All pinnae were tasseled or crested at the tips, giving the light green fronds a frilly look. Slow to develop the first summer, ‘Encourage’ had a robust, vase-shaped habit by the second year and was particularly densely robust in the fourth year. Plants were in full sun by 3 p.m. so some leaf scorching was occasionally observed in July and August. ‘Encourage’ is a selection of ‘Vernoniae Cristatum’."

 Athyrium filix-femina 'Encourage' / Photo by Richard Hawke

If you just want the results without looking at the full report, here they are:

"The majority of taxa in the trial received a five-star excellent rating or a four-star good rating for their overall performance. Top- rated plants displayed consistently attractive foliage, robust habits throughout each growing season, and winter hardiness during the evaluation term. The five-star plants included Athyrium ‘Branford Beauty’, A. ‘Branford Rambler’, A. ‘Ghost’, A. filix-femina, A. filix-femina ‘Encourage’, A. filix-femina ‘Victoriae’, A. filix-femina ssp. cyclosorum, A. niponicum var. pictum ‘Apple Court’, A. niponicum var. pictum ‘Pewter Lace’, A. niponicum var. pictum ‘Regal Red’, and Deparia acrostichoides."

You can read the entire fern report HERE and access the list of individual reports HERE.

I did not receive any remuneration for this post. I am merely a long-time fan of the CBG, especially these plant evaluations. 

Comments

[Lisa at Greenbow]

I have only been to the CBG one time. It instantly went onto my list of places I would like to return to. Thanks for making us aware of this report. I am sure I will find it interesting.

[Linda from Each Little World]

Lisa — ​These evaluations are terrific especially because they are for our area of the country. Often it seems like much info is for coastal gardeners.

[Erin @ The Impatient Gardener]

I always look to see if CBG has done a plant evaluation before choosing a cultivar. Such good information and a true test of the plants. I think they test them all for at least five years, right?

[Linda from Each Little World]

Erin — There is some variation in these numbers on different plant but generally the plant trials last four years for perennials, six for shrubs and vines and seven to ten years for trees.

[Peter/Outlaw]

Thank you for sharing this. I'm a big fan of ferns and was totally unaware of the CBG trials. I'll be clicking on the links to learn more!

[Linda from Each Little World]

Peter — I think most of the info will work for you. Probably the thing to look for is adverse reactions to wet conditions since you get more rain than we do.