3/18/04

Contacts:
Linda Naeve, Reiman Gardens, (515) 294-8946, lnaeve@iastate.edu
Jean McGuire, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515) 294-7033, jmcguire@iastate.edu

Reiman's Pick for the week of March 15, 2004

Japanese Painted Fern Colors the Shade

By Linda Naeve
ISU Extension Coordinator,
Reiman Gardens

Many people visualize a shade garden as a dark area, dominated by various shades of green. However, this is not the case in well-designed perennial shade borders. Certain plants, such as hostas with leaves edged or striped in white and lungworts with silver spots, catch the light and brighten shaded areas. This week's Reiman's pick - Japanese painted fern - adds color and sparkle in shade gardens.

It is easy to understand how the Japanese painted fern, Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum', got its common name. A native to Japan and surrounding Asian countries, the red-stemmed fronds appear to have been painted in shades of green and burgundy and covered with a silver topcoat. Several cultivars of Japanese painted fern exhibit variations of these colors. For example, 'Burgundy Lace' fronds have a bold burgundy background covered with shiny silver while the fronds of 'Pewter Lace' are dull-silver, like pewter, with red veins.

Japanese painted ferns grow 12 to 18 inches tall and nearly as wide. The plant will grow in diameter, but will not spread and become invasive. It grows well in part to full shade in well-drained, organic soil. The frond color is best in light shade where it will receive morning sun or filtered light. Like most ferns, Japanese painted fern flourishes where there is plenty of moisture and humidity.

Japanese painted fern is hardy as far north as northern Minnesota and southern Canada, in USDA Hardiness Zone 3, and can be grown nearly everywhere in the United States, except the Southwest desert. It brightens the front of a shady border garden as an accent plant and is tidy and attractive in a mass planting. The beautiful foliage contrasts with many other shade-loving plants in color and texture. It combines well with perennials such as hosta, foamflower, astilbe, bleeding heart and coral bells.

Japanese painted fern is a reliable, low-maintenance perennial. It only needs regular watering and should be cut back after the foliage dies in the fall. It does not require grooming throughout the summer and, best of all, is not a favorite food source for rabbits or deer.

Ferns of all types give shade gardens a delicate appearance and seem to have a cooling effect in the garden. Unfortunately, the fronds of many tall fern species, such as the ostrich fern, often scorch under summer's heat and appear dried and ragged by fall. The fronds on Japanese painted ferns remain vibrant from early spring through fall frost.

It is no surprise that the Japanese painted fern is a popular perennial choice for home gardens. The Perennial Plant Association selected it as this year's Perennial Plant of the Year because of its beauty, easy-care and range of hardiness. Japanese painted ferns should be available at many garden centers and nurseries for late spring planting.

View many different types of ferns year-round in the warm, tropical conservatory at Reiman Gardens.

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Editors: A color photo, suitable for publication, is available at right. Click on the thumbnail photo to go to the fullsized photo. The picture's fullsize photo is 400K. Caption: Painted fern. PHOTO CREDIT: PERENNIAL PLANT ASSOCIATION

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