Common Name: Japanese painted fern
Type: Fern
Family: Athyriaceae
Zone: 4 to 8
Height: 0.50 to 0.75 feet
Spread: 1.00 to 1.50 feet
Bloom Time: Non-flowering
Bloom Description: Non-flowering
Sun: Part shade to full shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Leaf: Colorful
Tolerate: Rabbit, Heavy Shade
Culture
Easily grown in humusy, organically rich, medium moisture, well-drained soil in part shade to full shade. Best sited in sheltered locations. Best silvery frond color occurs in light shade. Too much sun often results in a bleaching of the attractive frond colors. Tolerates more soil dryness than some other ferns in this genus, but soils must not be allowed to dry out.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Athyrium is a genus of ferns of about 180 species. They are found mostly in moist forest and woodland settings in both temperate and tropical areas.
Genus name comes from Greek athyros meaning "doorless" in reference to the slowly opening hinged indusia (spore covers).
‘Silver Slippers’ is a dwarf Japanese painted fern hybrid which typically matures to only 6-8” tall by 12-15” wide. This hybrid features a showy blend of silvery green fronds with contrasting wine-colored stems and mid-veins. It was discovered growing in the South Carolina garden of John Elsley. U.S. Plant Patent Applied For (PPAF).
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems. Fronds frequently become somewhat tattered in appearance by mid summer.
Uses
Woodland gardens, shade gardens or shaded border fronts.
‘Silver Slippers’ can be effectively grown in very small places (garden troughs, shaded rock beds) due to dwarf size. Also performs well in mixed containers.