Athyrium niponicum var. pictum - Painted Fern

Athyrium niponicum var. pictum is a small exquisitely variegated painted fern. Its beautifully variegated fronds are adorned with blue and silver metallic hues, highlighted with purple-red along the midrib. The young, particularly silvery, leaves are stunning in slightly shaded areas of the garden. Over time, this plant can colonise permanently wet area if the conditions are right. It thrives around natural ponds, in moist rockeries, or in damp woodlands.

The Japanese Painted Fern, in Latin Athyrium niponicum var. pictum, belongs to the family Athyriaceae (Dryopteridaceae). This botanical species is native to Japan, Taiwan, Korea, and northern China. Generally slow-growing in the garden, this fern will spread in a compact tuft, reaching 20-30 cm (8-12in) in height with a spread of 30 cm (12in). Once established, it becomes quite robust. It is a deciduous fern (it loses its foliage in winter).

Athyrium niponicum pictum forms a tuft with a branching and spreading habit from a central point. The young fronds appear silver with metallic hues. The mature fronds, 25 to 30 cm (10 to 12in) long, are bipinnate, pendulous, triangular, and dentate. The rachis (central vein) and stems have a purple hue that slightly extends onto the pale green fronds, marked with silver zones. This fern has a trailing, scale-like, reddish-brown rootstock that allows it to colonise over time without becoming invasive. It is highly resistant to cold when its rootstock is protected by a layer of dead leaves or dried fronds.

Plant Athyrium niponicum Pictum where the soil is rich, moist to fresh, neutral to slightly acidic, but well-drained. Above all, it is a plant for dappled light and moist soil or partial shade, expressing its full potential in very fresh woodlands or around water features. It also thrives in rockeries with rich soil and partial shade, where it can reach impressive dimensions over time. It pairs beautifully with Corydalis, hostas, baneberries, Solomon's seals, lily of the valley, brunneras, and trilliums. It adapts well to cultivation in large pots, in shade, with regular fertiliser.