Japanese Painted Fern - Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum' | Limited Release

Limited Release - Buy Now for Pickup at The Ranch

Gentle, grayish-green fronds with silvery centers and dusty purple veining arch down and clamber along woodsy ground–of course, we're referring to the Japanese Painted Fern. There's a reason this fern was named the Perennial Plant of the Year in 2004, and it has everything to do with its elegance and reliability in the garden.

This hardy fern is native to the woodlands, streams, and ravines of Asian countries like Japan, China, Korea, and Taiwan, where they receive dappled light that filters down from the larger canopies. These ferns grow from slow-growing underground stems called rhizomes, which causes the plant to spread and gives you gorgeous clumps of metallic gray-green fronds. 

The Japanese Painted Fern does best in shaded locations outdoors and shies away from the sun. Like lots of ferns, these love deep, consistent waterings to help mimic their natural environments. We love placing Japanese Painted Ferns in the garden to add plenty of color and texture–they pair great with brightly-colored foliage like what you'd find with 'All Gold' Japanese Forest Grass and 'Caramel' Coral Bells.