Hardy Fern Foundation

Mission

The mission of the Hardy Fern Foundation is to establish a comprehensive collection of the world's hardy ferns for display, testing, evaluation, public education, and introduction to the gardening and horticultural community.

Description

For many years a small group of longtime gardeners in the Seattle, Washington area were captivated by ferns; then, in 1989 they formed the Hardy Fern Foundation, a nonprofit organization, to share their enthusiasm for these remarkable plants by educating the public and to bring new and garden worthy ferns into cultivation. Soon thereafter the HFF reached an agreement with the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden (RSBG) in Federal Way, Washington to establish a collection and display of hardy ferns among a host of other native and exotic plants. Then, in 2009 several hundred conifer stumps were placed together among Doug fir and western red cedars at the RSBG and planted with ferns of every shape and size imaginable to create the largest Victorian stumpery in over 100 years. The HFF has developed relationships with fern enthusiasts around the world and now includes national, international, and dedicated local members. Each of them undertaking the wonderful walk into the unfurling world of ferns.