Deer Fern

Although deer ferns are handsome close up as focal plants, they are at their loveliest when grown en masse as a ground cover. Since they grow to about two feet tall and wide, space them about two feet apart. Or, consider placing them a bit further apart and add the companionship of other native ground cover species that can nestle in between the ferns (but not crowd them out)—this looks the most natural and will help keep down weeds and protect the soil.