Overview

Athyrium filix-femina 'Plumosum' is a fern in the genus Athyrium, part of the Athyriaceae family. It typically grows around 0.6 m tall. Athyrium filix-femina 'Plumosum' grows best in full shade, and tolerates most soils. Its UK hardiness is rated H7. Suggested uses include shade gardens, woodland gardens and borders. It is native to Belgium, Brussels-Capital Region, Flemish Region, Walloon Region, Flanders, Antioquia and Cundinamarca.

About

Athyrium filix-femina 'Plumosum' is a fern reaching about 0.6 m, suited to full shade. It prefers sandy, loamy or clay soils that remain moist but are well drained. Fully hardy (H7) and suitable through spring and summer, it is used in shade gardens, woodland gardens and borders. The plant belongs to the genus Athyrium in the Athyriaceae family.

Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0 — Athyrium filix-femina

About the genus

Athyrium (lady-fern) is a genus of about 180 species of terrestrial ferns, with a cosmopolitan distribution. It is placed in the family Athyriaceae, in the order Polypodiales. Its genus name is from Greek a- ('without') and Latinized Greek thyreos ('shield'), describing its inconspicuous indusium .

Wikipedia contributors, "Athyrium", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Athyrium

In the garden

Athyrium filix-femina 'Plumosum' is a member of the Athyriaceae and the genus Athyrium. Its recorded native range includes Belgium (Brussels-Capital Region, Flemish Region, Walloon Region, Flanders) and parts of Colombia (Antioquia, Cundinamarca). In the UK it is valued for locations where light levels are low and soils remain reliably damp. Plant where soil is sandy, loamy or clay that stays moist but drains freely, and place in full shade rather than sunlit positions. The hardiness rating H7 indicates it is fully hardy in UK gardens; the USDA range 3–8 gives context for cooler or milder continental climates. Fronds are present through spring into summer, so plan borders and woodland pockets with that seasonal presence in mind. Use this fern along shaded borders or inside woodland-style beds where a plant of about 0.6 m works as a low-to-mid height element. It suits grouped planting in damp shaded drifts or as a foil to shrubs that cast deep shade, making it a practical rhythmic element in a shaded garden composition.

Growing conditions

Best soil and position for Athyrium

Sunlight

Full shade

Soil type

Sandy, Loamy, Clay

Soil moisture

Moist but well-drained

UK hardiness

H7

Plant details

Athyrium filix-femina 'Plumosum' size, habit and characteristics

Plant type

Fern

Height

0.6 m

Suggested uses

Shade gardens, woodland gardens, borders

Native to

Belgium, Brussels-Capital Region, Flemish Region, Walloon Region, Flanders, Antioquia, Cundinamarca

Care notes

Pruning and caring for Athyrium filix-femina 'Plumosum'

Cultivation

Prefers moist, well-drained soil in shaded areas; avoid direct sunlight

Pruning

Remove dead or damaged fronds in early spring

Propagation

Division in spring or spore propagation

Frequently asked questions

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