How to grow athyrium

Choosing the right athyrium

There are several species and cultivars to choose from, in various sizes, shapes and colours, so before you buy, consider:

• Height and spread – athyriums range from low-growing Athyrium niponicum 'Silver Falls'at just 30cm (1ft) tall, up to A. filix-feminaat 1.8m (6ft) or more. Compact types are ideal for containers and small spaces, while taller types need plenty of space so they can unfurl fully and be displayed to their full potential.
• Leaves – most athyriums are deciduous
  Deciduous refers to plants (mainly trees and shrubs) that lose their leaves seasonally, usually during autumn. This is a natural process triggered by the season's shorter days and lower temperatures and allows plants to conserve energy during the winter months. , so their leaves (or fronds) die down in autumn and re-sprout in spring, unfurling attractively. Athyrium otophorum is semi-evergreen, so in warm, sheltered locations it may keep its leaves all winter. Some cultivars have tinted leaves, often blue-grey or silvery, such as A. niponicum var. pictum
• Soil type – most athyriums like moist but not waterlogged
  Describes soil or potting compost that is saturated with water. The water displaces air from the spaces between soil particles and plant roots can literally drown, unless they are adapted to growing in waterlogged conditions. Waterlogging is common on poorly drained soil or when heavy soil is compacted. soil, although A. filix-feminatolerates damper and more acidic soil, while others prefer slightly moist, neutral soil. See our guide to assessing your growing conditions.

Nine Athyrium species and cultivars have an RHS Award of Garden Merit, which shows they performed well in RHS trials, so are reliable choices.

To browse photos and descriptions of athyriums, go to RHS Find a Plant. You can also search by size, soil type, growing conditions and RHS Award of Garden Merit, to help narrow down your choices.

How and what to buy

Athyriums are widely available in garden centres and nurseries, often in 3 litre pots. For specific cultivars, try specialist nurseries including Long Acre Plants and Crawford Ferns. For more suppliers, go to RHS Plant Finder.

Where to plant

Athyriums like moisture-retentive but not waterlogged

Describes soil or potting compost that is saturated with water. The water displaces air from the spaces between soil particles and plant roots can literally drown, unless they are adapted to growing in waterlogged conditions. Waterlogging is common on poorly drained soil or when heavy soil is compacted. soil. Most originate from woodlands, so need shade or semi-shade. A few, such as Athyrium filix-femina, are more tolerant of brighter locations, but the leaves may become scorched and they need the soil to remain moist throughout summer to do well.

They are best grown in a sheltered location, away from strong winds and frost pockets. Other ferns such as Dryopteris and Polystichum may be more tolerant of exposed positions.

These ferns can be used in a wide range of garden styles, but particularly suit a woodland-style setting. Try planting them around old tree stumps and logs, and use a mulch

Mulch is a layer of material, at least 5cm (2in) thick, applied to the soil surface in late autumn to late winter (Nov-Feb). It is used to provide frost protection, improve plant growth by adding nutrients or increasing organic matter content, reducing water loss from the soil, for decorative purposes and suppressing weeds. Examples include well-rotted garden compost and manure, chipped bark, gravel, grit and slate chippings. of composted bark

Bark is the outermost layer of woody plants (trees, shrubs and woody climbers). It is several cells thick and provides protection against physical damage, disease and environmental stresses. Bark comes in a wide variety of colours and patterns, and these can help gardeners when identifying plants. The fissures and crevices of bark on older plants also creates valuable habitat for many garden creatures as well as lichens and small plants. , for a naturalistic feel. You could even create a stumpery. Ferns also suit a Japanese-themed garden.

When to plant

• It is best to plant in autumn or spring when the soil is naturally moist
• If you buy in summer, plant as soon as possible and water regularly to keep the soil moist

How to plant

These ferns are easy to plant, in a similar way to most perennials

Perennials are plants that live for multiple years. They come in all shapes and sizes and fill our gardens with colourful flowers and ornamental foliage. Many are hardy and can survive outdoors all year round, while less hardy types need protection over winter. The term herbaceous perennial is used to describe long-lived plants without a permanent woody structure (they die back to ground level each autumn), distinguishing them from trees, shrubs and sub-shrubs. – see our guide below. They just have a few specific requirements:

• Ensure there is plenty of space for the fronds to unfurl fully. Check the label for the plant's width/spread and allow this gap between plants
• Once firmed in, the plant should sit at the same level it was in the container. Avoid planting more deeply, as that may cause the base of the plant to rot
• Water in well, then cover the surrounding soil with a thick mulch of composted bark or leaf mould, to hold in moisture. Again, avoid covering the crown of the plant, as this could lead to rotting

Planting Perennials

Watering

• Newly planted athyriums should be watered as needed, especially during summer, for the first few years, until their roots are well established
• Athyriums like damp conditions, so in prolonged hot, dry spells or in free-draining soil, plants may need additional watering
• Plants in containers also require watering throughout the growing season, as the small amount of compost
  Can refer to either home-made garden compost or seed/potting compost: • Garden compost is a soil improver made from decomposed plant waste, usually in a compost bin or heap. It is added to soil to improve its fertility, structure and water-holding capacity. Seed or potting composts are used for growing seedlings or plants in containers - a wide range of commercially produced peat-free composts are available, made from a mix of various ingredients, such as loam, composted bark, coir and sand, although you can mix your own. dries out rapidly
• Direct the water to the roots and not onto the fronds or crown, as this can encourage rot

Collecting, storing and reusing water

Feeding

• Athyriums don't usually require feeding, but adding a mulch annually, such as well-rotted farmyard manure or garden compost, will improve the soil and boost growth

How to feed plants

Simply remove any dead or tatty fronds in spring, before the new fronds unfurl. Clear away any accumulated debris too, to ensure good air circulation.

By division

The easiest way to propagate athyriums is by dividing the clump, in a similar way to most other perennial

Perennials are plants that live for multiple years. They come in all shapes and sizes and fill our gardens with colourful flowers and ornamental foliage. Many are hardy and can survive outdoors all year round, while less hardy types need protection over winter. The term herbaceous perennial is used to describe long-lived plants without a permanent woody structure (they die back to ground level each autumn), distinguishing them from trees, shrubs and sub-shrubs. plants. There are two main methods:

• If the fern has formed several crowns, these can simply be prised apart, then replanted individually
• With ferns that have creeping underground stems ( rhizomes
  Rhizomes are creeping swollen root-like structures that are actually adapted stems. Roots, stems with leaves and flowers are produced along its length. See plants such as Anemone nemorosa, bamboo, canna, border iris. ), these rhizomes can be cut into short sections, each with a growth bud
  A bud is a small, undeveloped shoot that contains the potential for new growth. Buds are typically found on stems, where they can be apical (found at the tip) or axillary (found between leaf axils) and may develop into leaves, shoots or flowers. and roots, and replanted

For step-by-step instructions on both methods, see the propagation section of our guide to growing hardy ferns.

RHS guide to dividing perennials

Growing from spores

Growing new ferns from spores (the ferns' equivalent of seeds) is a more tricky and slower process. But it's a fun and interesting challenge for more experienced gardeners. For step-by-step instructions, see the propagation section of our guide to growing hardy ferns.

Athyriums rarely suffer from pests or diseases. If you water them regularly during their first year of establishment and protect them from wind and extreme cold, all will usually be well.