Luckily, there are great varieties of ferns that stay low and spread wide. The Korean rock fern (Polystichum tsus-simense) and Japanese painted fern (Athyriumniponicum 'Pictum') tap out around 15 ...

They come in both evergreen and deciduous types so take your pick. Good ones for dry shade include: Polystichum setiferum, Dryopteris filix-mas and Polypodium vulgare. They're perennial so will return ...