Athyrium filix femina Lady in Red

Athyrium filix-femina 'Lady in Red' is a hot selection of our North American native, deer-resistant lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina var. angustum forma rubellum) from a volunteer at The New England Wildflower Society. The lacy, light green foliage is held upright on dark, brilliant red-violet stipes (fern stems). Each plant of Athyrium 'Lady in Red' makes a slowly spreading patch to 3' in 5 years. This deciduous, easy-to-grow fern makes a great blending plant for hosta and other bold-leaf plants in the woodland garden.

Maintenance:

Athyrium 'Lady in Red' requires virtually no maintenance. As a deciduous fern, it dies back to the ground at first frost, so you can remove the old fronds when you rake leaves in fall. Since Lady in Red fern is a tight clumper, your plant will never need to be divided...unless you just want more to spread around.A clump should be able to be divided in 3-5 years of good garden conditions.

Growing Conditions:

Athyrium 'Lady in Red' prefers moist organic soils, although it's certainly tolerant of short term drought. If droughts last longer, the clump may go prematurely dormant, although it would take a very severe drought to cause lasting damage. Lady in Red fern thrives in both clay and sandy soil, although a humus-rich soil is preferred.

Nomenclature:

Some taxonomist have now elevated Athyrium angustum to species status, compared to its previous status as a subspecies of Athyrium filix-femina.

Natural Impact:

Because ferns don't flower, they aren't a draw for pollinators. Their lack of palatability to deer, however, is highly prized by shade gardeners in areas with high deer pressure.