Athyrium niponicum var. pictum 'Regal Red'

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Key characteristics

Family: Athyriaceae
Height: 12-18 inches tall
Width: 18-24 inches wide
Flower color: Non-flowering (grown for foliage)
Foliage color: Silvery-green fronds with deep burgundy-red stems and veins
Bloom time: Not applicable
Light: Partial to full shade
Water: Moderate to high
Maintenance: Low; trim dead fronds in spring
Growing zone: USDA Zones 4-8
Wildlife: None

Perennials

Athyrium niponicum var. pictum 'Regal Red'

Japanese Painted Fern

Athyrium niponicum var. pictum 'Regal Red' showcases a unique blend of silver and deep red tones, making it an enchanting addition to shaded garden spaces. Its finely divided fronds are edged in silvery green, with a rich, burgundy-red midrib that intensifies through the growing season, creating a vivid contrast. Known as the Japanese painted fern, this cultivar adds a refined, textural quality to woodland gardens and shaded borders.

Light

Partial to full shade

Water

Moderate to high

Bloom time

Not applicable

Find this plant

Works well in

Borders
Shade Gardens
Woodland Gardens
Rain Gardens
Containers

Companion plants

Bleeding hearts · Solomon's seal · Lungworts · Wild ginger · Hellebores · Japanese forest grass

Design tip

Use it as a steady framework plant, repeating it along a bed to tie separate plantings together. Keep it out of hot afternoon sun and layer it with woodland companions for a full, settled look.