Japanese painted fern is one of the most popular ferns for shade gardens, prized for silvery fronds with wine-red stems. The silvery plants sold in nurseries come from the cultivated form 'Pictum'; wild plants in East Asia are plain bright green with reddish stems. It is not native to the US but is hardy across most of the country.
Appearance
- Appearance
- Usually 18–24 in (45–60 cm) tall and wide, with arching, vase-shaped fronds.
- Growth form
- A deciduous perennial fern that dies back in winter. It spreads slowly by creeping, branching into a clump and is not aggressive.
- Leaves
- Fronds are cut twice into feathery segments. In garden forms they blend silvery gray, green, and maroon, with reddish stems.
Where it lives
- Typical habitats
- Shady woodlands (East Asia)
- Shade gardens
- Range
- Native to East Asia, including Japan, Korea, China, and Taiwan. In the US you will see it in gardens, not as a native wildflower.
- Preferred conditions
- Likes moist, rich, well-drained soil high in organic matter, in partial to full shade.
Life cycle
- Reproduction
- Has no flowers or seeds and reproduces by . The spore clusters on the frond undersides vary in shape: oblong, hooked, J-shaped, or horseshoe-shaped.
Growing it
- Care
- Hardy in USDA zones 4–9. Color is best in light shade; too much sun washes it out. Deer and rabbits seldom bother it, and it has no serious pest problems.
Name and classification
- About the name
- For a time it was placed in another genus as Anisocampium niponicum. Wild plants are also called Oriental ladyfern.
- Varieties and forms
- 'Pictum' (also listed as var. pictum) is the classic silver-and-burgundy garden form.
Conservation
- IUCN Red List
- NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed
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