Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium niponicum var. pictum)

Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium niponicum var. pictum) is a deciduous fern with a hand-painted appearance. Arching gray-green fronds are highlighted with silver for a metallic sheen and often flushed with burgundy at the center, matching the stems.

For best frond color, grow in part shade and rich, moist, well-drained soil. This fern offers deer resistance.

Dormancy note: Deciduous ferns may remain dormant until late spring. A dormant plant may arrive with no visible fronds, making the pot appear to contain only soil; new growth emerges as the plant leaves dormancy.

Growing details

• Plant type: Deciduous fern
• Mature height: 1–1.5 feet
• Mature spread: 1.5–2 feet
• Spacing: Approximately 1.5 feet apart
• Hardiness: USDA zones 4–9
• Light: Part sun to full shade; best frond color in part shade
• Soil: Rich, moist and well-drained
• Foliage: Arching gray-green fronds with silver highlights, often with burgundy centers and stems
• Additional traits: Deer resistance

Care and garden use

Keep soil moist. Fronds may turn brown if the soil dries out.

Use as an accent or in grouped plantings, borders, woodland gardens, naturalized areas, or containers. It can suit a shaded rock garden or planting near ponds and streams where soil remains moist but well-drained. Pair with coral bells, hosta, or heucherella for contrasting foliage and texture.

Image credits: Photo by Leonora (Ellie) Enking, Athyrium niponicum var. pictum; photo by Ryan Somma, Japanese Painted Fern, Athyrium niponicum var. pictum, Dryopteridaceae. Plants naturally vary in appearance and may differ from the images shown.