About
Athyrium niponicum var. pictum 'Silver Falls' is a deciduous fern characterized by its spreading rhizomes. The fronds are finely divided and display a grey-green hue, complemented by purple-red midribs. These fronds are notably adorned with silver highlights and feature a central purplish tint that emerges as they mature.
About the genus
Athyrium comprises deciduous ferns characterized by their upright or spreading rhizomes, which support typically pinnate to tripinnate fronds that are often thin in texture. These ferns are particularly well-suited for shaded environments.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full shade, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- North-facing, East-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H5
Plant details
- Plant type
- Ferns
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Spread
- 1.5-2.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 5-10 years
- Suggested uses
- Cottage and informal garden, Patio and container plants, City and courtyard gardens
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in fertile, moist, neutral to acid soil enriched with leaf mould or garden compost, in a shady, sheltered site. See how to grow ferns for further advice
- Pruning
- Dead or damaged fronds may be removed as necessary
- Propagation
- Propagate by sowing spores in mid to late summer (cultivars may not come true) or by division in spring
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free outdoors
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free outdoors