Yellow Ferns offer a different visual appeal than their green counterparts, with a dash of orange in their fronds!
Yellow ferns are not entirely of that color but have a mix of green, canary, and orange in their fronds. Do not mistake them for ferns that have diseased and yellowing leaves, though!
Yellow Ferns
The ferns on this list may have a deeper yellow/orange hue in their fronds around the fall. Do note that the fronds, when they age, might turn a different shade of yellow from their natural color.
1. Royal Fern
Botanical Name: Osmunda regalis
These large ferns grow erect in clusters and may grow as much as 4-6 feet tall. Their fronds get a nice pale-green color and shades of yellow and gold during fall.
2. Autumn Fern
Botanical Name: Dryopteris erythrosora
Native to Asia, this yellow fern gets its name from how its foliage changes color during the season, showcasing bronze, copper, and orange.
3. Golden Clubmoss
Botanical Name: Selaginella kraussiana
This chartreuse-colored variety of fern makes for a nice, low ground cover. It especially brightens up dark and shady areas of gardens—a great pick for small pots that you can keep in any bright spot of the house.
4. Cinnamon Fern
Botanical Name: Osmundastrum cinnamomeum
This fern gets its name from the cinnamon-like fibers on its fronds – the best part? The yellow-orange color contrasts beautifully with the remaining foliage, which stays mainly green.
5. Oakleaf Fern
Botanical Name: Drynaria quercifolia
What makes this fern stand out from the regular ones is the size of its leaves, which are significantly broader than the fronds of the other one. It has a beautiful hue of yellow and orange that gets more pronounced in the fall.
6. Licorice Fern
Botanical Name: Polypodium glycyrrhiza
You might spot one in the wild, growing onto a tree’s bark and covering it completely! These ferns are not entirely yellow/orange, but they have a particular set of fronds with that hue here and there.
7. Variegated Holly Fern
Botanical Name: Arachniodes simplicior ‘Variegata’
Well, this may not precisely be yellow when it comes to the fronds, but the lime green color in the middle of the foliage certainly makes this one stand out with vivid glory!
