Books About Ferns

List courtesy of Sue Olsen and updated by HFF Board members

Americas

  • A Field Guide to Ferns of Northeastern and Central North America, by Cobb, Farnsworth, & Lowe, 2005
  • Ferns and Fern Allies of Canada, by Cody & Britton, 1989
  • Ferns and Fern Allies of Chihuahua, by Knobloch, 1962
  • Ferns, Spikemosses, Clubmosses, and Quillworts of Eastern North America, by Sessa, 2024
  • Flora of North America, Volume 2., 1993
  • How to Know the Ferns and Fern Allies, by Mickel, 1979
  • New Jersey Ferns and Fern Allies, by Montgomery & Fairbrothers, 1992
  • Pacific Northwest Ferns and Their Allies, by Taylor, 1970
  • The Ferns and Allied Plants of New England, by Tryon & Moran, 1997
  • The Pteridophytes of Mexico, by Mickel & Smith 2004

Asia

  • An Illustrated Fern Flora of the West Himalaya, by Khullar, Volume 1, 1994, Volume 2, 2000 (in English)
  • Coloured Illustrations of the Japanese Pteridophyta, by Tagawa, 1977 (in Japanese)
  • Ferns and Fern Allies of Japan, by Kunio Iwatsuki, 1992 (in English)
  • Ferns and Fern Allies of Taiwan: Second Supplement, by Knapp & Hsu, 2017
  • Ferns of the Tropics, by Wee Yeow Chin, 1998 (in English)
  • Flora of China, Volumes 2-3, Polypodiaceae Through Lycopodiaceae, by Raven, 2013 (in English and Chinese)
  • Flora of Japan, Volume 1, Pteridophyta and Gymnosprermae, by Iwatsuki, Yamazaki, Boufford, & Ohba, 1995 (in English)

Australasia / Oceania

  • Ferns and Allied Plants of Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia, by Duncan, Isaac, by Goudey, & Hill, 1986
  • Ferns of Tasmania, by Garrett, 1996
  • Hawai’i’s Ferns and Fern Allies, by Palmer, 2003
  • New Zealand Ferns and Allied Plants, by Brownsey & Smith-Dodsworth, 1989

Europe

  • A Natural History of Britain’s Ferns, by Page, 1988
  • Farne im Herzen Europas, by Eberle, 1970 (in German)
  • Illustrierte Flora von Mittel-europa. Volume 1., by Hegi, 1984 (in German)
  • Les Fougres et plantes allies de France et d’Europe occidentale, by Prelli, 2001 (in French)
  • Polypodium: Tüpfelfarne: Arten und Kultivar, by Peters, 2015 (in German)
  • Scandinavian Ferns, a Natural History of the Ferns, Mosses, Quillworts, and Horsetails of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, by Øligaard, 1993 (in English, magnificent illustrations)
  • The Ferns of Britain and Ireland, by Page, 1982
  • Who found our ferns? A History of the Discovery of Britain’s Ferns, Clubmosses, Quillworts and Horsetails, by Edgington, 2013

General Fern Study & Gardening

  • A Natural History of Ferns, by Moran, 2009
  • A World of Ferns, by Camus, by Jermy, & Thomas, 1991
  • Encyclopaedia of Ferns, by Jones, 1987
  • Encyclopedia of Garden Ferns, by Sue Olsen, 2007
  • Fern Grower’s Manual, by Hoshizaki, & Moran, 2001
  • Ferns for American Gardens, by Mickel, 1994
  • Ferns, Lessons in Survival from Earth’s Most Adaptable Plants, by Fay-Wei Li & Suissa, 2025
  • Ferns of Southern Africa: a Comprehensive Guide, by Crouch, Klopper, Burrows, & Burrows, 2011
  • Ferns: Wild Things Make a Comeback in the Garden, by Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 1995 edition
  • Guide to Hardy Ferns, A British Pteridological Society Special Publication, by Rush, 1984
  • Hardy Ferns, by Kaye, 1968
  • Maidenhair Ferns in Cultivation, by Christopher J. Goudey, 1985
  • Native Ferns, Moss and Grasses, by Cullina, 2008
  • Polystichum Cultivars, by Dyce, Edited and Expanded by Sykes & Rickard, 2005
  • The Complete Book of Ferns: Indoors – Outdoors – Growing – Crafting – History & Lore, by Weinstein, 2020
  • The New Royal Horticultural Society’s Dictionary of Gardening: 4 volumes, 1999
  • The Plant Lover’s Guide to Ferns, by Steffen & Olsen, 2015
  • The Plantfinder’s Guide to Garden Ferns, by Rickard, 2000
  • Tree Ferns, by Large & Braggins, 2004