Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum' (Japanese Painted Fern)

Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum' is a cultivar of Japanese painted fern, a deciduous fern variety that typically grows to around 18" tall and wide. The 'Pictum' cultivar is noted for its compact growth habit and its highly ornamental silvery-green and red-veined fronds. In the spring and summer, the fern's silvery green color persists and becomes even showier when kept in optimal conditions, and frond tips may end up more creamy white in color than silver-green when kept happy in shade conditions.

'Pictum' is shade-loving and low maintenance, requiring only partial to full shade and medium-moist fertile soil with good drainage; so long as medium-moist shade conditions are met, 'Pictum' painted fern will grow beautifully. Japanese painted fern works great as a bed filler or ground cover in shaded areas, grows wonderfully in containers thanks to its compact size, and adds gorgeous color to woodland gardens or along streams and ponds. Though not native to the U.S., Athyrium niponicum presents no threat of becoming invasive due to its slow spreading nature, and additionally makes for an excellent ornamental selection to break up the monotony of more common green ferns.