PW® Crested Surf Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium niponicum 'Crested Surf')

PW® Crested Surf Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium niponicum 'Crested Surf') is a deciduous fern with shimmering silver fronds, red centers, and double-crested tips. Its twisting, ruffled foliage adds striking color and texture to shaded plantings.

For best foliage color, grow in part shade and rich, moist, well-drained soil.

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: 1.5–2 feet
• Mature spread: 2–2.5 feet
• Spacing: Approximately 2 feet apart
• Hardiness: USDA zones 3–8
• Light: Part shade to full shade
• Soil: Rich, moist and well-drained
• Foliage: Silvery fronds with red centers and double-crested tips

Care and garden use

Keep soil consistently 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, Blue Zinger sedge, or hosta for contrasting foliage and texture.

Image credit: Photos by Proven Winners, 'Crested Surf'. Plants naturally vary in appearance and may differ from the images shown.