Athyrium niponicum ('Metallicum') var. PICTUM

Japanese painted fern gained its specific epithet niponicum from Nippon which is the Japanese term for Japan (日本). It is a deciduous species with attractive fronds with fine leaflets of unique colours. Its seeds are variable and plants risen from seeds can differ from the parent. Spotting such spontaneous mutation gives rise to selecting new varieties. It slowly spreads with short rhizomes and under ideal conditions forms dense colonies used as a very decorative groundcover.

This variety of Japanese painted fern is absolutely fantastic and unique. Its Latin name pictum means ‘painted’ and the other accepted variety name Metallicum simply describes its most significant feature: leaf colour. When its fronds unroll the leaves show a magnificent mixture of pale metallic green with glowing silvery grey colour combined with magenta purple midribs and stems. Purple colour diminishes as the leaves mature. Leaf margins are finely serrated.

Japanese painted ferns can be found in almost all landscape types except for xeriscape. They are commonly used in Japanese gardens, but they also find use in cottage woodland gardens. They look great in urban landscapes in semi-shaded front yards among evergreen shrubs such as azaleas and pieris, and will offer elegance in modern containers in a minimalistic architecture. And finally, they will make a beautiful companion plant in a colourful semi-shaded perennial border alongside hostas, coral bells, brunneras, anemones, liriopes and similar.

Japanese painted fern is deciduous, so remove all foliage above ground level after winter. The ideal location is a partial shade, though, it will grow in full shade, too. It needs neutral to slightly acidic, humus-rich, well-drained but constantly moist soil. Even moisture will ensure the continuous formation of new fronds of leaves, on the other hand, drought will make the plant lose colour and drying off the tips. Hardy to about -34 °C. (USDA zone 4).

Last update 05-02-2009; 22-08-2013; 20-12-2022