Because of Casa Flora's pioneering work, ferns for every modern landscape situation are available. Below are several that are ideally suited for Dallas-area gardens. Compiled by Hillary Gant.

DIXIE WOOD FERN (Dryopteris x australis) – Another Casa Flora introduction, this fern is native to the southeast United States. It grows upright up to 5 feet. The narrow, lance-shaped leaves make it perfect for a focal point in the garden. Jimmy Turner of the Dallas Arboretum says this is his favorite fern. "It is big, almost evergreen and very fast- growing. Every shade garden should have this fern."

JAPANESE BEECH FERN (Thelypteris decursive-pinnata) – This fern is similar to southern wood fern (Thelypteris kunthii), but makes single, light-green, lacy clumps instead of colonizing or spreading. "I always recom- mend this fern when customers want deciduous ferns, because it is so easy to grow and doesn't take over like southern wood fern," says Bob Wilson, manager of Nicholson-Hardie Nursery. "It will stay where you plant it."

Japanese Beech Fern

AUTUMN FERN 'BRILLIANCE' (Dryopteris erythrosora 'Brilliance') – An improved variety introduced by Casa Flora, new fronds uncoil to reveal unusual coppery-orange growth that turns green as the weather warms. Autumn ferns produce their leathery new fronds all season. "If you want an evergreen fern, autumn fern is one of the best choices," according to Mr. Wilson. "My top picks for evergreen ferns are Japanese holly fern, autumn fern and tassel fern."

GHOST FERN (Athyrium x 'Ghost') – An improved variety of lady fern introduced by Casa Flora, ghost fern will stop even veteran gardeners in their tracks. It gets its name from its silvery-gray leaves; the stems are black and the undersides are gray. This stunner grows rigidly upright in a vase shape, giving it an elegant, formal effect. Try ghost fern as the focal point in a monochromatic planting scheme with purple oxalis (Oxalis purpurea), purple elephant ears (Colocasia esculenta 'Black Magic') and black mondo grass ( Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Arabicus').

JAPANESE PAINTED FERN (Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum') – This fern electrifies shady areas with its metallic purple and gray fronds and burgundy stems. It's easy to grow if it receives morning sun. Afternoon sun will burn the fronds, and deep shade will erase its beautiful coloration. Casa Flora introduced a different variety called 'Branford Beauty' with darker veins and a more upright growth habit.

CHRISTMAS FERN (Polystichum acrostichoides) – This fern, a Texas native, craves our hot, humid weather. Gardeners might mistake Christmas fern for Boston fern except it is evergreen and hardy to zone 3. It grows from a central crown and will make a 2-foot-wide clump. The new fronds grow upright and flatten as they age. In winter, the entire plant lies on the ground; when the new foliage emerges in spring, trim off last year's flattened leaves. It will colonize when the conditions are right, so it makes a great evergreen ground cover in deep shade. It also is a good substitute for Boston fern as the center plant in urns and hanging baskets.

Tassel Fern

TASSEL FERN (Polystichum polyblepharum) – "This fern might contend with Japanese holly fern for the top evergreen fern for Dallas," says Mr. Wilson. "The stem network is mahogany brown, and it has hairs along its base, which reminds me of tree ferns." It forms a broad, symmetrical, spreading crown with broad, glossy leaves in light shade with moist, rich soil. Create a tough combination with early spring bloomers like Lenten rose and Texas gold columbine.

SENSITIVE FERN (Onoclea sensibilis) – This medium- green, rough- textured fern will grow in more sunny areas if kept wet, and it colonizes aggressively. The only maintenance that is required for deciduous ferns like sensitive fern is to cut back the dead foliage in late fall or winter, if the brownish fronds don't appeal to you as winter interest. Because it can live in very wet conditions, it makes a great addition in a bog garden.

WAVY CLOAK FERN (Cheilanthes sinuata) – The unusual ferns in this genus look and act differently than the typical moisture-craving, shade-loving ferns. Mr. Turner says. Cheilanthes ferns such as hairy lip fern (C. lanosa), woolly lip fern (C. tomentosa) and silver cloak fern (C. argentea) are perfect for dry shade. The curiously named "lip ferns" can take more sun, drought and rocky soil than any other group of ferns. To protect themselves from dehydration, these ferns curl up and look dead when dry, but unfurl and appear as good as new when watered again.

JUMBO OSTRICH FERN (Matteuccia struthiopteris 'The King') – This ancient fern's fronds reach 3 to 7 feet. The fronds grow from a central crown in an upright vase-shape along with the lacier, plumelike, coppery-brown fronds that give the fern its name. Food connoisseurs collect young fiddleheads for cooking; it's the state vegetable of Virginia.

SOUTHERN WOOD FERN (Thelypteris kunthii) – This native Texan has lacy, light-green fronds that grow fairly erect to about 1 foot long. This tough fern enjoys more sun than most ferns and can take all but our harsh afternoon sun if the soil stays evenly moist. Under those conditions it colonizes quickly. In fact, it suffers in deep shade and becomes spindly, sparse and will not spread. It is one of our best fern choices to use as a ground cover in beds, borders or in more natural plantings.

LADY IN RED FERN (Athyrium angustum 'Lady In Red') – Another Casa Flora introduction, this variety of lady fern has red-violet stems that contrast nicely with its delicate, light green, lacy fronds. Any red-hued plants such as red Dragon Wing begonias, spider lilies (Lycoris radiata) and fall-blooming oxblood lilies ( Rhodophiala bifida) will bring out the red in the stems. If the red stems turn green or the fern grows very slowly and produces poor-quality foliage, try cutting the fertilizer rate in half.

ROSY MAIDENHAIR FERN (Adiantum hispidulum) – Slightly different from our native southern maidenhair fern (Adianutum capillus -veneris) because the new fronds emerge with a soft blush of pink. Maidenhair ferns are found around the world and have distinct, thin, shiny black stems and crepe-paper-thin, fan-shaped leaves. Maidenhair ferns won't do well without fast-draining, lime-rich soils. So if you're lucky enough to have a stream lined with limestone, then plant maidenhair ferns with abandon. Otherwise, be sure to prepare the bed with ample amounts of compost and add lime.

Japanese Holly Fern

JAPANESE HOLLY FERN (Crytomium falcatum) – Japanese holly fern rewards even the most brown-thumbed gardeners with lush foliage. It's almost foolproof, says Mr. Wilson. "Japanese holly fern is so popular because it is very easy to grow. It is drought-tolerant and can take our soils pretty well." Ample amounts of compost will result in spectacular, lush plants that can reach 4 feet across at maturity. This durable fern is great as the backbone or specimen for shady pockets.

JAPANESE CLIMBING FERN (Lygodium japonicum) – This fern will stump and surprise even the savviest gardener. The only climbing fern widely available to gardeners, it will quickly wrap itself onto structures by twining around its support, creating a lacy green veil. It will not damage structures as it attaches itself.