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Athyrium niponicum var. pictum

Previously known as:

  • Athyrium japonicum
  • Athyrium niponicum
  • Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum'
  • Deparia japonica
Phonetic Spelling
a-THEE-ree-um nip-PO-nih-kum PIK-tum
Description

The Japanese painted fern is a perennial in the Athyriaceae family.  Its striking silver, green, purple, or red fronds slowly spreads by compact to short, creeping and branching rhizomes, forming a clump.

This easy to grow  fern produces new fronds late in the spring is not aggressive. This plant prefers partial shade and moist, rich soil, with high organic content. When grown in light shade, the Japanese painted fern has its best color. Excess sunlight washes out the color. As such, it is a great addition as a front border plant in a shaded area, woodland, or shade garden.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  No serious problems.

VIDEO Created by NC State Extension's Homegrown series featuring Mark Weathington, Director of JC Raulston Arboretum.

 

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscapes:
Juniper Level Botanic Gardens: Part Sun-Part Shade Gardens Rock Wall Garden, Scott Arboretum Sun to Shade Garden Paths & Walkways
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Silver Falls'
'Silver Falls'
Tags:
#arching#deciduous#easy to grow#shade garden#showy leaves#fronds#fern#low maintenance#rabbit resistant#ncemgva2018#creeping#summer flowers#deer browsing plant#dappled sunlight#deer resistant#border front#partial shade tolerant#HS302#heavy shade tolerant#buncombe county sun and shade garden#cpp
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Silver Falls'
'Silver Falls'
Tags:
#arching#deciduous#easy to grow#shade garden#showy leaves#fronds#fern#low maintenance#rabbit resistant#ncemgva2018#creeping#summer flowers#deer browsing plant#dappled sunlight#deer resistant#border front#partial shade tolerant#HS302#heavy shade tolerant#buncombe county sun and shade garden#cpp
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Athyrium
    Species:
    niponicum
    Family:
    Athyriaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Eastern Asia
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    heavy shade; This plant is seldom damaged by deer.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Fern
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Arching
    Clumping
    Creeping
    Vase
    Maintenance:
    Low
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
    Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    High Organic Matter
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Description:
    No fruits. This plant reproduces via spores.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Description:
    No flowers.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Fronds
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Rosulate
    Leaf Shape:
    Deltoid
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    This plant has up to 20" tricolored fronds of maroon, medium green, and silvery gray that are arching and in a vase-like form. The triangular blade is broadly lance-shaped, bipinnate to pinnate-pinnatifid with toothed or rounded segments. The plant also has green with reddish rachis and pinna bases. This plant produces new fronds throughout the growing season with the first fronds in spring being the most silvery. New fronds may also develop during the summer.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Red/Burgundy
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Pond
    Rock Wall
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Rock Garden
    Shade Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Heavy Shade
    Rabbits