Dryopteris erythrosora 'Brilliance' (Autumn Fern)

Originally native to East Asia and Japan, Dryopteris erythrosora 'Brilliance' is a striking ornamental fern cultivar, popular for a variety of garden types and different landscape looks thanks to its attractive, color-changing, semi-evergreen foliage. Also called autumn fern, Dryopteris erythrosora grows to about 2' tall and wide in small, vase-like clumps. Noted for its dramatic color changing effects, young fronds emerge in shades of coppery orange and pink, before maturing to bright, vivid greens. In the fall and throughout the winter, foliage takes on a coppery-orange or even salmon-pink hue, accented beautifully by the small, red spore-producing structures, called sori, on the underside of the leaves.

Though not a true native, autumn fern is a popular choice for ornamental landscaping, as the native evergreen Christmas fern doesn't really rival the autumn fern's color and multi-season appeal. Once established, Dryopteris erythrosora 'Brilliance' can develop an extensive root system that makes it difficult to remove, but is not known to spread or become invasive as it is fairly slow growing and spreading. The plant's extensive roots make 'Brilliance' autumn fern an excellent choice for erosion control and rain garden planting, and these ferns are additionally mostly pest free and resistant to damage from both rabbits and deer!