Athyrium niponicum var. pictum

RHS Plant Profile

painted lady fern

Synonyms

Athyrium niponicum var. pictum 'Metallicum'
Athyrium goeringianum 'Pictum'
Athyrium iseanum hort. 'Metallicum'
Anthurium nipponicum 'Metallicum'
Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum'
Athyrium niponicum f. metallicum

Ferns

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A striking deciduous fern with a shortly-creeping rhizome and lance-shaped, bipinnate fronds to 30cm, grey, with paler midribs to the pinnae, and a red-purple zone along the centre

Position

Full shade, Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

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 Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Neutral

Position

Full shade 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): H5

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

Easy to grow in moist, fertile neutral to acid soil enriched with leaf mould or garden compost in a shady, sheltered site. See how to grow ferns for further advice

Propagation

Propagate from spores as soon as ripe or divide in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Rock garden
Cottage and informal garden
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

No pruning required. Cut down fronds as necessary

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free