Athyrium niponicum var. pictum

Japanese painted fern

• Position: full or partial shade
• Soil: moist, fertile, neutral to acid soil
• Rate of growth: average
• Hardiness: fully hardy
  
  This elegant, deciduous fern has deeply cut, greyish-green fronds effused with silver and purple. An excellent companion for shade-loving woodland plants it provides long-lasting foliage interest for a shady, sheltered patio or courtyard garden with moist, fertile, neutral to acid soil.
  
  
• Garden care: Incorporate lots of well-rotted leaf mould, composted pine needles or garden compost into the planting hole. In cold areas in late autumn protect the crown of the plant with a dry mulch of straw or bracken