Japanese Painted Fern
Athyrium niponicum ‘Pictum’

Soil:

Moist to wet; sandy, loamy

Light:

Full Shade

Height:

5-8 ft.

Width:

5-8 ft.

Description:

The Japanese painted fern is native to Japan, Korea, China and Taiwan and once you see it unfurling its metallic grey frond in early spring, you’ll be a convert and want a bit of the oriental influence in your garden.

This fern coloring lends itself to being an excellent contrast plant to other shade perennials. Try growing it with Hosta (I particularly liked the combinations of gold leafed Hosta with this plant), bleeding hearts, columbines, astilbe and heuchera. One combination that has been recommended is Japanese painted fern with Hosta.

The fronds are approximately eighteen inches long and are a soft-grey metallic colour with hints of red and blue. The centre stem is red so the contrast is excellent. It is a lovely plant preferring partial shade rather than deep shade.

Plan on making the soil quite organic by adding several inches of compost to the planting hole or mulch with equal amounts of compost each spring. You could also add several inches of peat moss to the planting hole as this plant appreciates a bit of acidity. If grown in a good soil, it will hold its coloring all summer long, from the earliest spring fronds right through until a good hard frost knocks it to the ground.