Athyrium (Lady Fern)

Why Should I Grow Lady Fern?

Growing Athyrium, or lady ferns, in your garden can be a highly rewarding experience for a multitude of reasons:

• Aesthetic Appeal: Athyrium provides lush, feathery foliage that adds elegance to any garden. Their attractive leaves, often with unique colors and patterns, can act as a beautiful backdrop for flowering plants or stand alone as a gorgeous focal point.
• Versatility: Lady ferns are highly adaptable. They can thrive in a wide range of soil types, as long as it is well-draining, and they can handle varying shade levels. This makes them suitable for different garden parts, from the shady under-story to container gardens.
• Low Maintenance: Once established, Athyrium is easy to care for. Additionally, it’s deer and rabbit-resistant, which is a significant advantage if these animals frequent your garden.
• Good for Wildlife: While they may not produce nectar-rich flowers, the dense foliage provides shelter for small creatures and insects, contributing to the overall biodiversity of your garden.
• Erosion Control: The extensive root systems of Athyrium make them excellent at controlling erosion, especially on sloping landscapes or in areas where the soil needs stabilizing.

In short, if you’re looking for a plant that brings visual interest, adaptability, and is low maintenance, then Athyrium would make a fine addition to your garden.

Popular Athyrium Varieties

Athyrium is a genus of about 180 species of ferns, but several stand out for their garden appeal. Here are some popular varieties:

1. Athyrium filix-femina (Lady Fern): Native to North America, it’s known for its feathery, bright green fronds. Various cultivars of this species offer different color variations and sizes.
2. Athyrium ‘Ghost’: This hybrid between Athyrium niponicum ‘Pictum’ and Athyrium filix-femina has silvery fronds, which stand out in shady garden spots.
3. Athyrium niponicum ‘Pictum’ (Japanese Painted Fern): This species is prized for its attractive silver-gray foliage with hints of red and blue. It was chosen as Perennial Plant of the Year in 2004 by the Perennial Plant Association.
4. Athyrium otophorum (Eared Lady Fern): This Asian species has apple-green fronds with contrasting burgundy stems.
5. Athyrium ‘Godzilla’: A large hybrid variety that can grow up to 3 feet (90 cm) tall and spread up to 6 feet (180 cm) wide. It’s known for its silvery fronds and purple midribs.
6. Athyrium angustum (Northern Lady Fern): This variety is native to the northern United States and Canada. It’s similar to Athyrium filix-femina but can handle colder climates.

Each of these varieties has its own unique attributes, but all Athyriums generally prefer shady locations with moist, well-drained soil. They make excellent additions to woodland gardens, shaded borders, and containers.

Garden Design with Lady Fern

Athyrium, or lady ferns, can play a significant role in a variety of garden designs, from woodland settings to borders or even as a vibrant addition to a rain garden. Their delicate, feathery foliage provides a wonderful texture contrast to coarser leaved plants and can be used to bring a touch of softness and elegance to the garden.

Here are some tips for incorporating Athyrium into your garden design:

• Shade Gardens: Athyrium thrive in partially to fully shaded areas. They’re ideal for use in a woodland garden or under the canopy of tall trees. The soft, feathery foliage of Athyrium can brighten up these areas with their sometimes vibrant colors and intricate patterns.
• Borders and Edges: Smaller Athyrium varieties make excellent border plants. They can edge a path or a garden bed, and their delicate fronds can provide a lovely contrast to the more substantial forms of shrubs or perennials.
• Container Gardening: Some varieties of Athyrium, particularly the smaller ones, can be grown in containers. They can be the central ‘thriller’ plant in a container garden, surrounded by ‘filler’ and ‘spiller’ plants, or they can stand alone in a decorative pot.
• Mixed Beds: Athyrium mixes well with other shade-loving perennials. Hostas, Hellebores, and Astilbe are often planted with Athyrium, providing different textures and colors for visual interest.
• Mass Plantings: In larger gardens, a mass planting of Athyrium can create an impressive display of color and texture, especially if you use a variety with particularly colorful fronds.
• Rain Gardens: Athyrium, being tolerant of wet soil, can be an excellent choice for a rain garden, which is designed to take full advantage of rainfall and runoff.

Remember, while Athyrium brings a lot of visual interest to a garden, its needs should be considered in the design. A location with shade and moist, well-draining soil will keep your Athyrium plants happy and healthy.

Companion Plants

Athyrium is an excellent companion for many plants. Here are some companions that can harmonize with Athyrium in a garden setting:

• Hostas: These shade-loving perennials are a classic partner for Athyrium. Their broad, colorful leaves create an appealing contrast to the delicate, feathery fronds of Athyrium.
• Hellebores: Known for their early spring bloom, hellebores can bring color to the garden when many other plants are still dormant. They also love the shade and can grow well alongside Athyrium.
• Astilbes: With their feathery, plume-like flowers and fern-like foliage, Astilbes can create a wonderful textural contrast with Athyrium. They also enjoy similar growing conditions.
• Heuchera (Coral Bells): Heucheras are admired for their vibrantly colored foliage which can create a striking contrast with the green fronds of Athyrium.
• Bleeding Hearts (Dicentra): These beautiful shade-tolerant plants bloom with heart-shaped flowers in the spring and can provide a lovely color contrast in a garden bed with Athyrium.
• Ligularia: Their big, bold leaves and tall, bright flowers make a dramatic contrast with the more delicate foliage of Athyrium.
• Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum): The arching stems and hanging flowers of Solomon’s seal complement the upright growth of Athyrium.

When choosing companion plants for Athyrium, it’s important to consider their cultural requirements. All these plants appreciate a shaded location and consistently moist soil, making them excellent companions for Athyrium. Always ensure the plants you choose will thrive in your particular climate and soil conditions.

How to Grow Lady Fern

Athyrium, or lady ferns, are relatively easy to grow if you provide them with the right conditions. Here are some steps to grow these shade-loving perennials:

Location: Athyriums prefer a location in partial to full shade. They can tolerate some morning sunlight but should be protected from harsh afternoon sun, which can scorch their leaves.

Protection: Athyrium is not suitable for exposed, windy areas of the garden. Shelter it from strong winds and frost pockets. Locate them away from high-traffic areas. The delicate fronds lack the strengthening tissue of other ferns. They are fragile and can be easily snapped.

Soil: These ferns prefer well-drained, loamy or sandy soil that is rich in organic matter. The soil pH should be slightly acidic to neutral. If your soil is clay-based or poor in nutrients, improve it by adding compost or other organic material.

Planting: Plant in autumn or spring when the soil is naturally moist. Plant Athyriums at the same depth they were growing at in their nursery pot. Space them about 18-24 inches (45-60 cm) apart to allow for growth and air circulation. Ensure you give your fern plenty of space so it can unfurl fully and be displayed to its full potential.

Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. These ferns prefer a damp environment, so they may need more frequent watering in dry conditions or during hot weather. If planted in containers, your fern also requires regular watering throughout the growing season, as the small amount of compost dries out rapidly. But be careful to avoid waterlogging the soil, as this can lead to root rot.

Mulching: Mulch around the plants with a thick layer of composted bark or leaf mold to help maintain soil moisture and add organic matter to the soil as it breaks down. Mulching also helps to suppress weed growth. Do not cover the plant’s crown, which could lead to rotting.

Fertilizing: Fertilize in spring with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer or compost. This will help provide the nutrients the ferns need for the growing season.

Maintenance: Trim back dead fronds in early spring before new growth starts. Clear away any accumulated debris, too, to ensure good air circulation.

Pests and Diseases: No serious pest or disease issues, watch out for pests such as slugs and snails.

Propagation: Athyriums can be propagated by division in early spring. Divide mature plants every few years to maintain vigor.

Remember, like all plants, Athyriums have their own specific needs. Some varieties may have slightly different requirements, so always check the specific care instructions for your variety.