Athyrium niponicum
Japanese painted fern
Common names: Japanese painted fern (Regenbogenfarn), Rainbow fern
At a glance
- Light
- Partial shade
- Pot size
- from 10 l
- Lifespan
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Hardy down to −25 °C
- Water need
- Medium
This description was machine-translated.
Description
The Japanese painted fern, botanically Athyrium niponicum, originates from East Asia and is a popular ornamental fern because of its colors. In the form commonly sold in trade, the finely divided fronds shimmer silvery grey to metallic, the midribs and stalks are wine-red to violet, and often a bluish or reddish tinge is added. It grows 30 to 40 cm tall, forms loose clumps, and spreads only slowly via its rhizome. The fronds emerge in spring and die back in autumn. In the garden it glows in light shade under woody plants, along the edges of shade beds, between hostas and Christmas roses, or in pots and containers on the north side. In deep shade the markings remain paler, while in light shade they show best.
Care instructions
Plant the Japanese painted fern in April in a partly shaded spot with humus-rich, fresh soil. In light shade, with some morning or evening sun, the fronds color best, while in full sun they dry out. Keep the soil evenly moist without waterlogging. In dry periods, water thoroughly, and in containers often every few days. A mulch layer of fallen leaves saves watering. The fronds retreat on their own in autumn; cut off the dried remains in March before the new shoots appear. Protect young shoots with fleece against late frosts until mid-May. Typical mistakes are dry, sunny locations and waterlogging.
The care notes were machine-translated from German.
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
humus-rich, moist, well-drained, nutrient-rich
The Japanese painted fern likes humus-rich, loose soil that stays evenly moist without becoming waterlogged. Soil with plenty of leaf mould compost, slightly acidic to neutral, is ideal. Strongly chalky soils suit it less, and on heavy, wet soils the rootstock rots. On sandy soil, mix in plenty of compost and leaf mould so that the soil holds water; on clay, add some sand for drainage.
Feeding
Light feeder
Months
Apr
In April, when the first fronds appear, lay a layer of mature leaf mould compost around the plant. That is enough food and also keeps the soil moist. The Japanese painted fern needs no more than that in the bed. In a container, renew the top layer of compost every spring and mix in compost, because after a few years the pot no longer provides enough.
Overwintering
The Japanese painted fern is hardy and dies back in autumn: after the first frosts in October or November the fronds die off, and the rootstock overwinters in the ground. Leave the old fronds standing as protection and cover them additionally with leaves or brushwood in frost without snow cover. In a container, place the pot against a sheltered wall, wrap it in horticultural fleece and water on frost-free days so that the root ball does not dry out. New growth appears from the end of April.
Propagation
Methods
- Division
- From seed
The surest way to propagate the Japanese painted fern is by division. In March or April, shortly before the fronds unfurl, dig up the rootstock and divide it with a sharp spade into pieces with at least three frond buds. Plant them straight away in moist, humus-rich soil. Spores can also be sown, but the seedlings do not come true to variety: the colour and markings of the fronds turn out differently, and some plants stay plain green. Raising them takes several years.
For your garden
Grow Japanese painted fern yourself
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