Athyrium Japanese Painted Fern

Bring striking color and refined texture to shaded gardens with Japanese Painted Fern, a standout foliage plant featuring arching gray green fronds brushed with silver variegation and accented by deep red midribs. Emerging with rich purple tones in spring, the finely cut foliage creates a luminous, layered effect that brightens borders, woodland gardens, and shaded beds throughout the season. This compact, clump-forming fern offers a tidy, low-growing habit ideal for groundcover use or front-of-border plantings. Deer-resistant and exceptionally easy to grow, it thrives in partial to full shade and moist soils, making it a reliable choice for adding contrast, movement, and elegance to low-light landscapes.

Plant Details:

• Botanical name: Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum'
• Common name: Japanese Painted Fern
• Plant type: Fern
• Foliage color: Gray green with silver variegation and red midribs
• Mature height: 18 inches
• Mature spread: 24 inches
• Sun exposure: Partial shade to full shade
• Hardiness zone: 3
• Soil needs: Moist, well-drained, acidic soil
• Growth habit: Dense, arching clumps
• Special features: Decorative foliage, deer resistant, low maintenance