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Ferns

Athyrium niponicum var. pictum 'Pearly White'

A compact, slow-spreading, elegant, mound-forming deciduous fern with red stems. The fronds have pale green edges and white centres, giving it a frosted ivory appearance. Ideal on a pathway border, in shady areas or for pots and containers

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

5–10 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Neutral, Acid

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full shade
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or West–facing or North–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)

Botanical details

Family: Woodsiaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: 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: Unresolved

How to grow

Cultivation

Plant in moist but free draining fertile, neutral to acid soil in a shaded, sheltered site. See how to grow ferns for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by division

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Low Maintenance
Flower borders and beds
Underplanting of roses and shrubs

Pruning

No pruning required but can remove older fading leaves if necessary as new fronds appear

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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