Japanese Painted Fern

The Japanese Painted Fern is a medium-sized deciduous fern that quickly becomes a clump of 2-foot stems covering an area of 2 or even 3 feet across. It is unique in having amazing silver-green leaves with stems and elegant markings in deep maroon-red. The coloring is most pronounced in spring and early summer, and may be temporarily reduced in very hot summers. Grow it to brighten your shady beds, by water and on damp rocky slopes. Use it naturally in woodlands, or in pots and planter boxes that are ideal for shady terraces.

• Unique foliage of silver-green, marked with maroon-red
• A real charmer, and very special
• Easy to grow and versatile in the garden
• Reliably hardy even in zone 4
• Grows well in pots too.

Partial to full shade, and even deep shade, are fine with the Japanese Painted Fern, which grows in ordinary garden soil, preferring richer and moist soils, but otherwise very easy to grow. It is hardy even in zone 4 and there is nothing to do but tidy up the dead leaves in fall or after winter is over. Pests and diseases don’t bother this low-care plant, and both rabbits and deer usually ignore it. A simple way to add striking colors to your shady beds.