One of the things I love about gardening is how exciting it is when you discover a new plant that works perfectly in your home or garden.

For me, that happened a few years ago when I started working with Costa Farms and was introduced to Kimberly Queen ferns. Certainly these amazing plants have been around a long time, but somehow I’d never run across one. It didn’t take long, though, to fall completely in love with this versatile, easy-care, indoor or outdoor fern.

These runway models of the fern world have a tall, slender, elegant profile that’s especially striking when showcased in a vertical planter. In addition, Australian-native Kimberly Queen ferns stick to a pretty rigid diet, only rarely wanting to be fed. Plus, compared to other ferns, these beauties don’t need to be watered as much as other ferns and won’t sulk if you forget to give them a drink now and then.

In our garden, we decided to put Kimberly Queen fern’s upright habit to good use. We started by planting one inside a hollowed out tree trunk in our backyard. Almost immediately, a backyard eyesore was transformed into a glorious garden focal point.

Then, we took a second Kimberly Queen fern and dropped it into an antique chimney pot flanking our front door. And once again, we were astounded at how beautiful (and super easy) the results were.

Keep in mind that beautiful Kimberly Queen ferns are not cold tolerant, so if you live where winters dip below freezing, bring them indoors and grow them as a houseplant. In zones 9-11 you can grow Kimberly Queen ferns directly in the landscape. Indoors, they prefer bright, indirect light and a drink whenever the soil feels dry to the touch. Over time, they can grow 3 feet tall and wide.

Written by Doug Jimerson