A WALLED GARDEN

Ever wondered how ferns grow in brick or stone walls? Ferns don’t flower, so they don’t produce seeds. Instead they release thousands of microscopic spores that land any place and eventually grow into new ferns if conditions are right. Most ferns prefer acidic soil but some, such as maidenhair spleenwort, cope with alkalinity so cement, water sitting in a wall’s crevices and a shady aspect are ideal.

Staghorn ferns