list of spreading ferns

[Mr List]

wanting a list of ground cover ferns that run/creep/spread up to about 1ft tall and should be hardy

[Conifers]

Polypodium vulgare, Polypodium interjectum, Polypodium cambricum.

Likely other Polypodium species too; the three above are all native to Britain.

[Dryopteris]

These are the ones I have that fit your description:

Hypolepis millefolium
Phegopteris decursive-pinnata
Gymnocarpium dryopteris
Gymnocarpium robertianum
Gymnocarpium fedtschenkoanum
Blechnum penna-marina
Thelyptris beddomei/palustris
Onoclea sensibilis
Woodwardia areolata

[Mr List]

good list.

which is the fastest spreader/most invasive

[Dryopteris]

Depends on what soil you have and how much it dries out. On my dry sandy, lime-free soil Hypolepis millefolium is the fastest growing. In wetter soils others will perform better.

[fern Rob]

evergreen or not?

[Dryopteris]

No, from the ones I mentioned, only blechnum is evergreen.

[Mr List]

I don't care if it is evergreen I want something vigorous

[Arlon Tishmarsh]

I was gonna suggest Blechnum spicant and chilense but thought you'd dismiss them due to height, spicant approx 500mm , chilense approx 1m................really nice ferns , well worth considering.

[Neil Ziemski]

Matteuccia struthiopteris
Going mental here for me
Neil