About
This tufted fern forms a rosette of arching, broadly ovate fronds that can reach up to 50 cm in length. In spring, the fronds are a light green, transitioning to a grey-green as the season progresses. The stalks and main veins are characterized by a purple hue, adding a unique touch to its appearance.
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
- Partial shade
- Soil type
- Clay, Loam
- Soil pH
- Acid, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- North-facing, East-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H4
Plant details
- Plant type
- Ferns
- Habit
- Bushy
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Spread
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 2-5 years
- Suggested uses
- Cottage and informal garden
- Native to
- E Asia
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grows best in moist, preferably neutral or acid soil in a sheltered position in dappled or full shade
- Pruning
- Tidy plant and remove leaves when they begin to die down
- Propagation
- Propagate by division in spring or propagate from spores; sow spores as soon as ripe at 15-20°C (59-68°F) in a humid environment with indirect light
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free