Plant Type: Perennials
One of the most colorful ferns for the garden, the Japanese Painted Fern has silvery-gray fronds which are dusty purple towards the center. They are set off by the purplish-red veins and stems. This fern has a low and mounding habit, slowly spreading by rhizomes to form dense colonies. The fronds are positioned in a way that creates a horizontal layering effect much like you see in Dogwood trees.
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Growing & Maintenance Tips:
Grows best in moist soil with a neutral to moderately acidic pH. Light to partial shade is best; some sunlight is necessary to produce the vibrant coloring. To protect the crowns and tender shoots in the spring, it is best to leave the old fronds on the plant over the winter. They can be removed in the spring when the new fronds reach 6 inches tall. If division is necessary, do so in the spring.
Flower Color
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Foliage Color
Silvery-gray with purple centersPlant Spread
24 in.Good Companions
Astilbe-Hybrid (Astilbe ), Brunnera-Heartleaf (Brunnera macrophylla), Columbine (Aquilegia ), Coral Bells (Heuchera ), Hosta (Hosta ), Lenten Rose (Helleborus orientalis), Ligularia (Ligularia przewalskii), Lily-turf-Blue (Liriope muscari), Lungwort (Pulmonaria ), Northern Sea Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium), Snakeroot-Black (Cimicifuga ramosa), Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum)
Plant Height
12-18 in.Scape Height
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Hardness Zone
3-8Soil Moisture
Average and consistent water needsCharacteristics & Attributes
Attributes
Cut flower or foliage, Border, Ground cover, Container
Bloom Time
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Critter Resistance
Rabbit resistantExposure
Full to part shadeGrowth Rate
MediumSeasonal Interests
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