Athyrium niponicum var. pictum 'Silver Falls'
painted lady fern 'Silver Falls'
A deciduous fern with creeping rhizomes. The deeply divided, grey-green fronds have purple-red midribs, and are heavily overlaid with silver and with a central, purplish flush that develops
Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metresTime to ultimate height
5–10 yearsUltimate spread
1.5–2.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drainedpH
Acid, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green Grey Silver Purple | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Green Grey Silver Purple | |||
| Autumn | Green Grey Silver Purple | |||
| Winter |
Position
- Full shade
- Partial shade
Aspect
North–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H5Botanical details
- Family
- Woodsiaceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Genus
Athyrium are deciduous ferns with erect or creeping rhizomes bearing usually pinnate to tripinnate fronds, often of thin texture, and they are especially shade-tolerant
- Name status
Accepted
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in fertile, moist, neutral to acid soil enriched with leaf mould or garden compost, in a shady, sheltered site. See how to grow ferns for further advice
Propagation
Propagate by sowing spores in mid to late summer (cultivars may not come true) or by division in spring
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Cottage and informal garden
- Patio and container plants
- City and courtyard gardens
- Low Maintenance
- Flower borders and beds
- Underplanting of roses and shrubs
Pruning
Dead or damaged fronds may be removed as necessary
Pests
Generally pest-free outdoors
Diseases
Generally disease-free outdoors
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.