Athyrium niponicum

'Pictum'

2004 PPA Plant of the Year

 

Common Name:
Japanese Painted Fern
Bloom color:
Metallic, silver gray fronds with hints of red and blue
Height:
12-18"
Bloom:
 
Hardiness:
Zone 3-8
Light:
Partial shade
Soil:
Well drained, compost rich

Why you need this plant:     An oriental beauty that is a blend of gray-green and wine-red.  By far the most colorful fern.  The best show comes when planted in partial shade and evenly moist soil.  2004 Perennial Plant Association Plant of the Year.  Outstanding combination plant for adding color, texture and habit to shady landscape beds and containers.  Combine with white flowering plants or those with variegated leaves to echo the unique coloring of the fronds.

 

 
Planting Info:           Plant in well-drained, compost-rich soil where moisture and humidity abound.  'Pictum' grows best in part to full shade.  The best frond color results in light shade.  The colors are more intense in the spring, in cooler temperatures or in cooler climates.  Add 2-3 inches of compost or peat moss to the beds each spring or fall.  Goes dormant in the fall.  Divide mature clumps in early spring (3-4 divisions).  Fertilize at 1/2 the rate of other perennials with an organic or time-release fertilizer.