Foxtail ferns (Asparagus densiflorus ‘Myersii’) are popular ornamental plants known for their unique, feathery texture and upright form. Incorporating companion plants can enhance their beauty and contribute to a cohesive garden design. Thoughtful companion planting creates a dynamic interplay of colors, textures, and heights, elevating the overall aesthetic.
Understanding Foxtail Fern Needs
Foxtail ferns thrive in specific environmental conditions that compatible companion plants should share. They prefer bright, indirect sunlight or partial shade, tolerating some morning sun. Intense afternoon sun can scorch their foliage. Foxtail ferns have tuberous roots that store water, making them somewhat drought-tolerant once established. They prefer regular watering, allowing the top few inches of soil to dry between waterings. Well-draining soil is preferred to prevent root rot, though they adapt to various soil types if drainage is adequate.
Choosing Compatible Companions
Selecting appropriate companion plants involves considering shared environmental needs and how different plant characteristics complement the foxtail fern’s appearance. Contrasting textures, colors, or forms create engaging displays.
Annuals for Seasonal Color
Annuals introduce vibrant, seasonal color and can be easily changed to refresh a garden’s look. For partial sun, impatiens provide continuous blooms in many colors and thrive in well-drained soil. Coleus offers visual interest with diverse foliage colors and patterns, performing well in similar light. Petunias and calibrachoa, especially part-sun varieties, can spill from containers or fill gaps with prolific blooms.
Perennials for Lasting Appeal
Perennials contribute long-term structure and interest. Hostas, with broad leaves and varying shades, create a striking texture contrast with foxtail ferns and thrive in partial to full shade with well-drained soil. Daylilies offer bursts of color and tolerate partial sun, while salvias provide vertical accents with their flower spikes. Smaller, non-invasive ornamental grasses add movement and a different textural element, complementing the foxtail fern’s form.
Groundcovers and Edging Plants
Low-growing groundcovers and edging plants soften borders or fill spaces around foxtail ferns. Sedum, a succulent, offers various foliage colors and thrives in well-drained to dry soils in partial to full sun. Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) provides bright chartreuse foliage that spills attractively, though its aggressive spreading habit requires monitoring. Low-growing vinca (Vinca minor) also serves as a durable groundcover in partial shade.
Plants for Containers and Baskets
When foxtail ferns are grown in containers, applying the “thriller, filler, spiller” design principle creates a balanced arrangement. If the foxtail fern serves as a “thriller” due to its upright form, “fillers” like impatiens or petunias provide volume and color. “Spillers” such as sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas) or calibrachoa cascade over the container’s edge, adding depth. Upright salvias or smaller cannas can also serve as thrillers, providing height and bold accents.
Design Principles for Combining Plants
Thoughtful design principles enhance the visual impact of foxtail ferns and their companions. Texture contrast is important; the fine fronds of the foxtail fern provide a counterpoint to broader leaves like hostas, creating visual depth. Color harmony or contrast also plays a role. Choose companion plants with colors that complement the foxtail fern’s green foliage or provide striking contrast.
Varying plant heights and forms creates visual layers. Taller plants anchor the arrangement, while lower-growing options or spillers soften edges and fill the foreground. Repeating foxtail ferns or companions throughout an area establishes rhythm and cohesion.
Placement and Care Considerations
Proper placement and consistent care are important for a combined planting. Ensure adequate spacing for all plants to reach mature size without overcrowding, which can lead to competition and reduced air circulation. When planting, dig holes large enough for the root ball, gently loosen compacted roots, and place the plant at the same depth as its previous container.
Consistent watering is important, especially during establishment. While foxtail ferns tolerate some drought, companion plants may have different moisture needs; monitor soil regularly for consistent moisture without waterlogging. General-purpose fertilization during the growing season supports plant health. Regular maintenance, such as deadheading spent annual flowers or trimming perennials, helps maintain appearance and encourages growth.
Plants to Avoid
Avoid plants that are unsuitable companions to prevent gardening challenges. Highly aggressive or invasive species can outcompete foxtail ferns for resources and space. Foxtail ferns have strong, tuberous root systems that can spread widely.
Also avoid plants with vastly different light, water, or soil requirements. For instance, plants demanding consistently boggy soil, like marsh marigolds, would not thrive alongside foxtail ferns, which prefer well-draining conditions. Similarly, desert succulents requiring extremely dry conditions would be incompatible. Plants with overly dense or competitive root systems could hinder the foxtail fern’s growth by monopolizing nutrients and water.