General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Fern
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Partial or Dappled Shade
Partial Shade to Full Shade
Water Preferences: Wet
Wet Mesic
Mesic
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 3 -40 °C (-40 °F) to -37.2 °C (-35)
Plant Height: 12-24 inches
Plant Spread: 24-30 inches
Leaves: Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Suitable Locations: Terrariums
Bog gardening
Uses: Groundcover
Will Naturalize
Resistances: Deer Resistant
Propagation: Seeds: Other info: Spores
Propagation: Other methods: Division
Containers: Suitable in 3 gallon or larger
Needs excellent drainage in pots
Awards and Recognitions: RHS AGM
Other: 2004 Great Plant Picks Award Winner

Image
Common names
  • Japanese Painted Fern
  • Ghost Fern
  • Painted Lady Fern
Botanical names
  • Accepted: Anisocampium niponicum
  • Synonym: Athyrium niponicum f. metallicum
  • Synonym: Athyrium niponicum var. pictum
  • Synonym: Athyrium niponicum

Photo Gallery
Location: Home garden
Date: 2020-07-24
By KYgal
Location: z5 MA, my garden
Date: 2011-06-26
Athyrium niponicum var. pictum. Under Hinoki Cypress. Bright shad
Location: Southern Pines, NC (Boyd House garden)
Date: June 5, 2023
Japanese painted fern #236 nn; LHB p. 86; MGB, "Genus name comes
Location: Nora's Garden - Castlegar, B.C.
Date: 2020-10-23
- Standing up to an early October snowfall.
Location: Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, England UK 
Date: 2021-07-29
Anisocampium niponicum

Date: 2019-03-02
Location: Nora's Garden - Castlegar, B.C.
Date: 2021-05-23
- A very rich stem colour.
Location: Nora's Garden - Castlegar, B.C.
Date: 2021-05-23
- Could this be a Japanese Black Lady Fern? She is dominating the
Photo by riverman123
Location: z5 MA, my garden
Date: 2011-06-26
Athyrium niponicum var. pictum
Location: Southern Pines, NC (Boyd House garden)
Date: June 5, 2023
Japanese painted fern #236 nn; LHB p. 86; MGB, "Genus name comes
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2011-04-24

Date: 2020-05-24
Location: South Jordan, Utah, United States
Date: 2018-07-16
Location: Twisp
Date: September
Location: Twisp
Date: May
By late summer, these will turn a ghostly white, but they emerge
Location: IL
Date: 2010-04-27
Location: My garden, Willow Valley Communities, Willow Street, Pennsylvania
Date: 2022-05-01
Location: my front yard
Date: 2009-06-18
Location: Southern Maine
Date: 2020-07-13
Unpainted offspring with attractive lacy fronds.

Date: 2016-05-23
Location: West Valley City, UT
Date: 2012-05-09
Second year after planting.

Date: 2012-06-15
Location: Nora's Garden - Castlegar, B.C.
Date: 2021-11-15
- Fall colour into November.
Location: In my garden 
Date: 10/03/2011
Location: Brownstown Pennsylvania
Date: 2016-06-30
Photo by sedumzz
Location: Lancaster PA 
Date: May 2023
Location: Gatlinburg Tennessee 
Date: May 5, 2020
Location: RHS Harlow Carr, Yorkshire, UK
Date: 2019-06-09

Image Courtesy of Bloomin Designs Nursery Used with Permission
  • Uploaded by vic
Location: My garden in N E Pa. 
Date: 2014-05-29
Location: My Northeastern Indiana Gardens - Zone 5b
Date: 2010-06-05

photo credit: Stan Shebs
Location: Bloomington, Illinois
Date: 2012-06-16

Date: 2012-06-15
Location: My garden, Willow Valley Communities, Lakes Campus, Willow Street, Pennsylvania USA
Date: 2019-06-26
Location: Western Kentucky
Date: 2011-04-29
Location: Apple Valley MN
Date: 2017-05-25
Location: Garden
Date: 2017-05-26
Location: my garden, Gent, Belgium
Date: 2007-06-01
Location: Indiana  Zone 5
Date: 2011-07-06

Date: 2014-06-27
Location: Apple Valley MN
Date: 2019-10-28
Location: Peterborough, ON, Canada
Date: 2013-06-12

Date: 2018-04-12
Died before end of summer 2017, re-sprouted from roots this Sprin
Location: Louisa, VA
Location: Austin ,TX
Date: 2013-06-02
Location: Home
Date: 2016-09-15
Location: Home
Date: 2016-09-15
Photo by Hamwild
Location: Osaka Prefectural Flower Garden, Osaka, Japan.
Date: June 21, 2009
Photo by KENPEI
Location: My garden in Kalama, Wa. Zone 8
Date: 2014-06-10
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: My Garden
Date: 2012-09-19
Location: In my garden in Kalama, Wa.
Date: 2008-05-21
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: Cedarhome, Washington
Date: 2009-10-02
Location: Cedarhome, Washington
Date: 2013-05-31
Underside of leaves showing spores
Location: Ray Wiegand's Nursery, Macomb, MI
Date: 2010-09-09
Location: Ray Wiegand's Nursery, Macomb, MI
Date: 2010-09-09

Courtesy Crownsville Nursery
  • Uploaded by vic

Courtesy Crownsville Nursery
  • Uploaded by vic

Courtesy Crownsville Nursery
  • Uploaded by vic

Courtesy Crownsville Nursery
  • Uploaded by vic
Location: Manitoba, Canada
Date: 2015-07-20

Date: 2014-05-05
Location: Dallas, TX
Date: May
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2012-03-29
Location: Hampton Court Palace!
Date: 2012-07-24
Fantastic fern.
Location: Dayton, TN
Date: 2013-07-28
Location: My garden in N E Pa. 
Date: 2016-04-29

Date: 2018-05-15
Location: Cedarhome, Washington
Date: 2013-05-31
Backside of frond
Location: Z6
Date: 2010-06-08
Location: Ray Wiegand's Nursery, Macomb, MI
Date: 2010-09-09
Location: Ray Wiegand's Nursery, Macomb, MI
Date: 2010-09-09
Location: Ray Wiegand's Nursery, Macomb, MI
Date: 2010-09-09

Courtesy Crownsville Nursery
  • Uploaded by vic

Courtesy Crownsville Nursery
  • Uploaded by vic

Photo Courtesy of Homestead Farms Nursery. Used with Permission.
  • Uploaded by Joy

Courtesy Crownsville Nursery
  • Uploaded by vic

Photo Courtesy of Lazy S'S Farm Nursery.
  • Uploaded by Joy

Photo Courtesy of Lazy S'S Farm Nursery.
  • Uploaded by Joy

Photo Courtesy of Lazy S'S Farm Nursery.
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2012-10-29
This plant is tagged in:
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Comments:
  • Posted by SongofJoy (Clarksville, TN - Zone 6b) on Jan 14, 2012 11:31 AM concerning plant:
    This fern is noted for its striking silver green fronds. In spring, its fiddleheads emerge with a rosy glow. Clumps normally grow to about 18 inches tall and do best in good soil with a little morning sun and light shade thereafter. Some bright light is needed to bring out the beautiful coloration. Use the Japanese Painted Fern to add splashes of silver to your garden.
  • Posted by eclayne (Pioneer Valley south, MA, USA - Zone 6a) on Jul 28, 2012 5:25 PM concerning plant:
    In both 2011 and 2012 this fern has exceeded 24" in diameter. With this year's moderate drought, temperatures regularly in the 90's, and little supplemental water (a good soaking every two weeks), this fern is holding up surprisingly well. The colors are amazing, with at least three distinct palettes depending on the age of the fronds.
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Discussion Threads about this plant
Thread Title Last Reply Replies
Painted fern? by Cyclaminist May 22, 2016 7:50 PM 1

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