Dainty bright green fronds are suspended on shiny black wire-like stems creating a light, airy texture in the woodland garden.  The slightest wind causes a gyrating movement in the fronds. In rich soil and bright shade it will spread by shallow rhizomes to form a dense groundcover. Found in the humus-rich woodlands and moist woods of Eastern North America. Easy to grow as long as the soil is loose and rich. 

• Part Sun to Shade
• Moist, good drainage – not wet
• Height 12-24 inches  x Spread 12-18 Inches
• Deciduous and Native
• Zone 4-8

 ‘Ghost’ is a deciduous hybrid fern (Athyrium niponicum var. pictum and Athyrium filix-femina) that is noted for its upright silvery foliage. Silvery foliage is acquired from its Japanese painted fern parent and upright habit from its lady fern parent. It typically grows to 30” tall. It features a slowly spreading clump of fronds that are a soft grayish-green with an overlay of silvery hues accented by contrasting dark maroon midribs. Silvering is best in the spring, with fronds becoming more grayish-green as hot temperatures arrive. I Part-shade to full-shade. Best sited in sheltered locations.  Silvery hues accented by contrasting dark maroon midribs

• Part shade to full shade
• Height 2 to 2.5 feet x Spread: 1.5 to 2 feet
• Deciduous
• Zone 3-8

Athyrium angustum forma rubellum Lady in Red Fern

‘Lady in Red' New, exciting vibrant burgundy color runs through the stem creating sharp contrast with the green fronds. This deciduous fern is fantastic in any shade garden. Do not fertilize with nitrogen for brightest color. Plants must undergo a winter dormancy for bright color and full color doesn't occur until 2nd dormancy and maturity. The Athyrium as a group are very heat and humidity tolerant.

• Height: 30-36''  x Spread: 18”
• Light  shade – full shade
• Zone 3-8

Easily grown in rich, medium moisture, well-drained soil in part shade to full shade. Tolerates drier soils than many other ferns. Will tolerate full sun, however, only if soil is kept constantly moist. Shelter this fern from wind to protect fronds from breaking. Divide clumps in spring every few years to reposition crowns at the soil level. This deciduous lady fern is a native that typically occurs in wooded valleys along streams, on rich wooded slopes and on floors of ravines. Light green, finely-divided fronds grow up to 3' long.

• Full sun to full shade
• Moist
• Height 1-3 feet Spread 1 to 2.5 feet
• Deciduous and Native
• Zone 4-8

Another dainty clumping fern of soft light green fronds. Lends a nice texture to containers and shaded niches in the garden border.  It establishes rapidly, developing new crowns and fronds that form thick islands of green.

• Height: 30''  x Spread: 18”
• Light  shade – full shade
• Zone 4-9

This fern has cool, grey-green, almost silvery, foliage and reddish-purple stalks that are useful for brightening dark spots in borders. It is deciduous, and although it reaches only 8 to 12 inches in height, it is easy to grow, prolific, and easily divided.  It forms a tight, hardy ground cover when plants are placed about 1 foot apart. Athyrium niponicum ‘Pictum’ was the 2004 Perennial Plant of the Year. Provide light to full shade and well-drained, rich, moist soil, preferably in a humid environment. Divides best in the Spring.

• Height: 8”-12” x Spread: same
• Light  shade – full shade
• Zone 4-9

More red and burgundy than most of the burgundy clones of the pictums. The pinnules twist a little making the frond look "fluffed-up" look.  Do not over feed it makes this fern less red.  This selected form of Japanese Painted Fern has arching triangular leaves of silver, with contrasting red stems in each leaflet. It forms a small mound that looks particularly good edging a woodland walkway, in shady borders or even in containers.  Foliage may be trimmed to the ground in late fall or early spring. Well-behaved, non-spreading habit. Plants may be divided in spring every 3 to 4 years if desired.

• Height : 12-18” x  Spread: 18-23”
• Light Shade-shade
• Zone 4-9