Athyrium otophorum

RHS Plant Profile
eared lady fern

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eared lady fern RHS

Synonyms

Asplenium otophorum

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Ferns
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A tufted fern making a rosette of arching, broadly ovate, bipinnate fronds to 50cm long, pale green in spring, later grey-green, with purple stalk and main veins

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Neutral

Position

Partial shade
Aspect
North–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H4

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Woodsiaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
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
Correct
Plant Range
E Asia

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grows best in moist, preferably neutral or acid soil in a sheltered position in dappled or full shade

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

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Tidy plant and remove leaves when they begin to die down

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free