Hardy Fern Foundation

Home
United States
Federal Way, WA
Hardy Fern Foundation

Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Hardy Fern Foundation, Nonprofit Organization, 2525 S 336th Street, Federal Way, Federal Way, WA.

The Hardy Fern Foundation was established to introduce and test the world's temperate ferns for hardiness and ornamental value and to build comprehensive collections for public display, information and education.

05/29/2026

The HFF Education Comittee has put together a stellar line up of local garden tours throughout the summer this year! Don’t miss out on the chance to visit numerous private retreats rarely open to the public.

We are incredibly grateful to all our generous hosts for welcoming us into these special places. To top it all off, our friends at Far Reaches Farm will be offering a tour of the and all the incredible plants they are cultivating.

Register soon, as these tours are sure to fill up quickly! Grab a friend and make a day (or multiple days) of it. Time and specifics for each day tour are available on the events page on our website. Link in bio ⬆️🌿🚙

📸 featuring the Carhart Garden, Froggsong, Far Reaches Farm, and the Riehl Stumpery

05/13/2026

Dicksonia antarctica, the evergreen tree fern native to Australia and Tasmania, is coming back to life after its winter slumber….this tree fern is hardy to zone 8 with low maintenance winter protection (like a frost wrap or simple wire cage stuffed with fallen leaves).

When cultivated in the garden it can slowly grow to 15 feet with an upright rhizome forming a trunk. Large fronds that are glossy dark green bipinnate to tripinnate with a rough texture can reach up to 10 feet in length! Add the feel of a rainforest to your garden with this rare beauty.

05/06/2026

The Hardy Fern Foundation was established as a non-profit to introduce and test the world’s temperate ferns for hardiness and ornamental value and to build comprehensive collections for public display and education.

As the developing world changes how we value and preserve wild plants and the history of horticulture, there’s never been a better time to support these efforts. by donating today! 🌿💚

Click the link in our bio for GIVE BIG at Washington Gives or go to the url: https://www.wagives.org/donate/Hardy-Fern-Foundation

plantsmakespeoplehappy

04/29/2026

Fern lovers, this is your moment…more than a plant sale, this is a chance to connect with fellow plant enthusiasts and bring home something truly special 🌿💚

Join the Hardy Fern Foundation for a special weekend pop-up event at the where you can shop hard-to-find ferns, discover unique varieties, and get expert advice on how to grow and care for your own thriving fern collection. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or just getting started, there’s something here for everyone. We’ll be joined by some incredible local growers and rare plant experts like and

📍 in Federal Way, WA
📅 May 2–3, 2026 from 10am-4pm

What to Expect:
🌿 Rare & unusual ferns (and MANY other plants) you won’t find anywhere else
🌿 Knowledgeable plant experts ready to answer your questions
🌿 Inspiration for shade gardens, woodland vibes, and beyond
🌸 Peak spring bloom in a 22-acre woodland botanical garden

Tag your plant bestie 🌱 and visit us this weekend!

04/27/2026

There’s a quiet magic happening in the garden right now…🌿

One by one, delicate fronds are unfurling. Days ago they were coiled tightly, but now they stretch gracefully toward the light with brilliant new growth. Each fiddlehead is a reminder of resilience and renewal, proof that growth often begins in the most subtle, patient ways.

These ancient plants, unchanged for millions of years, continue to captivate us with their elegance and quiet strength. Take a moment to slow down, look closely, and wonder at the beauty of new beginnings spiraling into life.

04/02/2026

2026 Spring Garden Tour: Explore the early spring magic of .gardens this April on a private tour through the grounds while they are closed to the public.

Sunday, April 19th, 2026 from 1pm-3pm in North Seattle

Long-time Dunn Garden Board Members Chuck Ogburn and Janet Egger will lead a walk through the stunning 1915 Olmsted designed garden to view one of the Pacific Northwest’s earliest blooming spring bulbs while highlighting the many other botanical collections.

Enjoy the bright colors of the dainty Erythronium, or fawn lily, as they pop up among the display beds bringing a welcome spot of color along with other ephemerals, early unfurling ferns, the famed heather bank in full bloom, mature magnolias and much more…

Notable features of Dunn Garden include naturalistic groupings of specimen trees (many of historical size/stature), broad lawns with mixed borders of perennials and shrubs, and shaded woodland walks, including the newly introduced Duwamish native trail. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to explore one of the PNW’s most treasured estate gardens.

Link in bio to register on our events page. This is a private in-person tour: Members $35 (w/ coupon) / Non-Members $45

📸 Credits: and

03/09/2026

Spring webinars coming in hot! Don’t miss these inspiring and educational fern-focused presentations by horticultural experts.

MAR 19TH- A Botanical Exploration of Yakushima, Japan with RSBG Nursery Manager, Atsuko Gibson. Travel to Yaku island and experience the beauty, diversity, and wild spirit of Yakushima along with its ferns and majestic natural landscapes.

MAY 28TH- Right Fern, Right Place with Executive Director of the EMBG, Richie Steffen. Join us for another installment of a class our members ask for every year! Learn from Richie’s years of cultivation expertise as you hone your skills on how to properly grow ferns with different needs.

JUN 25TH- An Introduction to Fern Identification with our favorite fern guru, . Learn how to identify a variety of fern genera using easy to remember keys/clues that will help you feel confident in your own fern expertise.

Register at the link in our bio! Join live or watch the recording at your leisure. Members- don’t forget your coupon code for special discounts.

03/06/2026

Members! Don’t miss the final installment of our free winter webinar series with the British Pteridological Society and the Dutch Fern Society- Saturday MARCH 21, 2026

This time we will be traveling to Belgium with the talented of Bokrijk Arboretum. Sven will be sharing the Arboretum fern collection, its development over time, propagation methods from the on-site nursery, and examples of how these plants perform in the garden.

Sven is a gardener and collection specialist Arboretum in Belgium, home to the largest holly collection in Europe and notable collections of oaks, Magnolia, bamboo, Rhododendron, Cyclamen and of course ferns. The arboretum has a nursery on site, focusing on fern propagation.

Sven’s passion for plants began in childhood with collecting orchids and joining the local orchid society. Over time, his interests expanded to include exotic hardy plants, rare trees and shrubs, shade plants, and, of course, ferns… Sven’s private garden reflects his deep love for plants, featuring a diverse collection of bamboos, trees and shrubs, woodland plants, xerophytes and a spectacular green wall with mainly ferns and
Gesneriads.

This annual webinar series is FREE to members and takes place every year from November-March. If you’re not a member yet, now’s your chance to register. Visit the link in our bio.💚

03/03/2026

It was a gorgeous PNW (almost) spring weekend into week beginning and it was a good day to be a fern growing in our hoop post spring-cleaning and cutback with and - looking forward to all the beautiful ferns we’ll be sharing with you this year! 🌿

02/16/2026

Do you ever wonder when you should cut back your ferns? Can your ferns be divided? How and when do you do that? Ever wanted to see the inner workings of a Victorian stumpery?

Come spend the day with us, learning all about fern maintenance and applying those skills in the most beloved and fern display!

Saturday, March 7th, 2026 - 10am-1pm

Participants in this fern maintenance workshop will cut back ferns applying the techniques learned and will be shown the species that require special care to thrive in a garden setting. This is an active event and participation is encouraged!

Richie Steffen the fern expert, past president of the Hardy Fern Foundation and Executive Director of the Elisabeth C Miller Botanical Garden and Emily Joseph Hardy Fern Foundation Nursery & Sales Manager, will teach the basics of fern cultivation and the finer details of what to do now to make your ferns look their best for spring and summer.

After the stumpery session of the workshop, the class will visit the HFF hoop house in the RSBG nursery to see some of the new ferns in cultivation and rare treasures being propagated.

Register on the events page of our website using the link in bio!

Address

2525 S 336th Street, Federal Way
Federal Way, WA
98003

Telephone

+12533452520

Website

https://www.hardyferns.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Hardy Fern Foundation posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Want your organization to be the top-listed Non Profit Organization in Federal Way?