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Athyrium niponicum var. pictum 'Ursula's Red'

painted lady fern 'Ursula's Red'

A deciduous fern with bipinnate fronds with dark reddish stipes. Newly emerging fronds are purple-bronze, with a darker band of colour extending across the pinnae on either side of the rachis , fading to silvery-green with age.

Synonyms
Athyrium filix-femina 'Ursula's Red'
Athyrium 'Ursula's Red'
see moreAthyrium niponicum 'Ursula's Red'
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Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metres
Time to ultimate height
2–5 years
Ultimate spread
0.1–0.5 metres
Growing conditions
Clay
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Purple Bronze
Summer Purple Bronze
Autumn Grey Silver Green
Winter
Position
  • Full shade
  • Full sun
  • Partial shade
Aspect

North–facing or East–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H5
Botanical details
Family
Woodsiaceae
Native to GB / Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy, Clump forming
Genus

Athyrium are deciduous ferns with erect or creeping rhizomes bearing usually pinnate to tripinnate fronds, often of thin texture, and they are especially shade-tolerant

Name status

Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Prefers a fertile, humus-rich, neutral to acid, moist but well-drained soil in full or dappled shade.

Propagation

Propagate by division in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Sub-tropical
  • Patio and container plants
  • Flower borders and beds
Pruning

No pruning required. Cut down fronds as necessary

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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