Athyrium niponicum var pictum ‘Metallicum’

Description

What a mouthful you might say, Indeed I much prefer ‘Japanese Painted Fern’, much against my better judgement as a horticulturalist often confused by common names.  Anyway ‘Metallicum’ (let’s call it that) is a fabulous small hardy fern with delicate deep green and silvery-grey finely divided fronds.

Rarely growing here more than 40cm high and wide making it perfect for exotic looking groundcover in shady spots.  Ideally your soil should be fertile, add lots of good compost please and keep slightly moist though not waterlogged.

Sounds complicated but it’s really not, just add good compost when planting, mulch once a year in autumn and maybe water occasionally during dry spells.  

Well worth the effort for this charming fern which is hardy in most parts of the UK.