Athyrium filix-femina (Lady Fern)
Noted for its vigor and superb elegance, Athyrium filix-femina (Lady Fern) is a lovely deciduous fern forming a large rosette of upright to arching, lacy, lance-shaped, fresh-green fronds. The stems are generally green but sometimes display a very interesting red hue. Fast-growing, this fern is easy to grow and perfect for filling gaps between shrubs or under trees.
Noted for its vigor and superb elegance, Athyrium filix-femina (Lady Fern) is a lovely deciduous fern forming a large rosette of upright to arching, lacy, lance-shaped, fresh-green fronds. The stems are generally green but sometimes display a very interesting red hue. Fast-growing, this fern is easy to grow and perfect for filling gaps between shrubs or under trees. Low maintenance, pest and disease free.
- Clump-forming, it easily grows up to 1-3 ft. tall (30-90 cm) and 12-30 in. wide (30-75 cm). This plant naturalizes well and can form great colonies if happy.
- Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society for its outstanding qualities
- A part to full shade lover, it is best grown in fertile, humus-rich, medium moisture, well-drained soils. Do not allow the soil to dry out. More tolerant of drier soils than most other ferns. Will tolerate full sun, if consistent moisture is provided. Provide a sheltered location.
- This plant is a great choice for shady beds, borders, underplanting of shrubs, cottage gardens, woodlands, rain gardens, or along streams, ponds, or water gardens.
- Rabbit, deer, clay, and wet soil tolerant!
- Dead or damaged fronds may be removed as necessary.
- Propagate by sowing spores in mid to late summer or by division in spring
- Native to the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere
Requirements
| Hardiness | 4 – 9 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones | 1 – 9 |
| Climate Zones | 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, A1, A2, A3 |
| Plant Type | Ferns |
| Plant Family | Athyrium – Lady Ferns |
| Exposure | Partial Sun, Shade |
| Season of Interest | Spring (Mid,Late)Summer (Early,Mid,Late)Fall |
| Height | 1' – 3' (30cm – 90cm) |
| Spread | 1' – 3' (30cm – 90cm) |
| Spacing | 30″ (75cm) |
| Water Needs | Average |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Soil Type | Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Plant of Merit, Showy |
| Native Plants | United States, Alaska, California, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Pacific Northwest, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Rocky Mountains, Colorado, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas |
| Tolerance | Clay Soil, Deer, Rabbit, Wet Soil |
| Garden Uses | Beds and Borders, Ponds and Streams, Rain Gardens, Underplanting Roses and Shrubs |
| Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage, Traditional Garden |