Most people in the south think of ferns as an annual plant grown and displayed in hanging baskets or pots. However, there are many varieties of hardy ferns that will return year after year when planted in the ground in southern gardens, some even have evergreen foliage. Perennial Ferns provide a texture that is all their own and are a staple in shade gardens. The hardy ferns we use most in the landscape are Japanese Painted Fern and the evergreen Autumn Fern.