A Comparative Study of Lady Ferns and Japanese Painted Ferns (Athyrium Spp.)
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Plant Evaluation Notes Issue 39, 2015 A Comparative Study of Lady Ferns and Japanese Painted Ferns (Athyrium spp.) Richard G. Hawke, Plant Evaluation Manager and Associate Scientist Photo by Richard Hawke Athyrium filix-femina Lady ferns and Japanese painted ferns of the wood fern family (Dryopteridaceae) Japanese painted ferns has spawned an (Athyrium spp.) are among the most elegant and just a few of the nearly 200 species array of new colorful cultivars as well as a yet utilitarian plants for the shade garden. native to temperate and tropical regions few exceptional hybrids with the common Their lacy fronds arch and twist in a graceful worldwide. The common lady fern lady fern. manner, being both structural and ethereal (A. filix-femina) is a circumglobal species at the same time. Ferns stand on their found in moist woodlands, meadows, While common botanical terms such as foliar merits alone, having no flowers to and ravines throughout North America, leaf, stem, and midrib can be used to overshadow their feathery foliage. The lush Europe, and Asia, and is represented in describe fern foliage, specialized terminology green fronds of lady ferns are in marked gardens by a plethora of cultivars—many of further defines fern morphology. The fern contrast to the sage green, silver, and the oldest forms originated in England leaf or frond is composed of the stipe burgundy tones of the colorful Japanese during the Victorian era. Eared lady fern (stem), blade (leaf), rachis (midrib), and painted ferns. The delicate quality of their (A. otophorum) and Japanese lady fern pinna (leaflet). Crosier or fiddlehead fronds belies their stoutness—they are (A. vidalii) are woodland natives in Japan, describes the coiled frond as it emerges durable and hardy garden plants that Korea, and China. Likewise, Japanese from the ground before it unfurls. The lacy can be broadly cultivated successfully painted fern is native to moist shady sites in or feathery texture of fern foliage is due to throughout North America. Japan, China, and Korea. Athyrium niponi- the number of pinnae (plural of pinna) and cum features green foliage, whereas the pinnules, which are the secondary division Lady ferns (Athyrium filix-femina, A. otophorum, naturally occurring variant pictum offers up or subleaflets of a pinna. The division of and A. vidalii) and Japanese painted fern grayish-green fronds with purple midribs. the frond into multiple pinnae is described (A. niponicum var. pictum) are members In the past decade, the popularity of as bi- or tripinnate-pinnatifid, which means 2 Plant Evaluation Notes two to three times divided. Ferns are non- painted ferns feature lance-shaped, bipinnate long-arching to twisted fronds. All species flowering plants that reproduce asexually blades with purple rachises. Cultivars have of Athyrium produce new fronds throughout by spores, which are contained in capsules been selected for their frond color, which summer and are deciduous in the fall; called sporangia that are often located ranges from silvery to gray-green and is i.e. senescing foliage falls away naturally on the undersides of the fronds. Clusters often suffused with purple or burgundy. before winter. of sporangia are called sori; the shape and Much like seed-grown plants, spore-grown position of sori on the frond is important for ferns are variable in foliage coloration and Japanese painted ferns and lady ferns are fern identification. character. The delicateness of the fronds generally easy to grow when correctly of Athyrium spp. is not just about their sited. They prefer moist, well-drained soils Athyrium filix-femina has lance-shaped appearance; in fact, the rachises and stipes in partial to full shade but can tolerate some green fronds with green to reddish stipes are brittle and easily broken. The spores of sunlight. While Japanese painted ferns and rachises. The bipinnate-pinnatifid lady ferns are borne in straight, crescent, grow in full shade, morning sun nicely blades have 20-30 pairs of pinnae, which or J-shaped sori, whereas the sori of enhances the leaf color. Consistent moisture accentuates the feathery texture of the Japanese painted ferns are half-moon is essential for keeping ferns healthy and foliage. Cultivars of lady fern are commonly to J-shaped and are positioned on the lush but even so, fronds of lady ferns may grouped by enhanced foliar traits such as undersides of the fronds. look tattered by summer’s end. Both of crested (Cristatum), crossed (Cruciatum), these ferns should be grown in sheltered and feathery (Plumosum). Crested types Lady ferns have clumping habits with locations to protect their fragile stipes feature fan-shaped tufts or tassels at gracefully arching fronds that arise from and rachises. A heavy rain or irrigation the tips of the pinnae. The pinnae of the stout, upright rhizomes, giving them a event can beat down the delicate fronds Cruciatum group crisscross along the somewhat formal look. The more organic of Japanese painted ferns, but in a day rachis forming an X-pattern, while the pinnae habit of Japanese painted ferns is due or two the plants should recover unless of the feathery types are more finely divided to their slowly creeping and branching fronds were broken. Spores germinate giving the fronds a plumed look. Japanese rhizomes, which form an irregular patch of readily in the garden, but cultivars will not come true to type from spores. Spring division or tissue-culture is necessary to propagate cultivars. Japanese painted fern cultivars and hybrids are widely grown and popular garden plants, so much so that Athyrium niponicum var. pictum was the Perennial Plant of the Year in 2004. They are excep- tional as accents or massed in shade gardens, woodlands, and near streams and ponds. And they work wonderfully in container plantings. Japanese painted ferns combine beautifully with bold-leaved perennials such as hostas (Hosta spp.), hellebores (Helleborus spp.), toad lilies (Tricyrtis spp.), and ligularias (Ligularia spp.). Their silvery and purple foliage pairs sublimely with the silver heart-shaped leaves of ‘Jack Frost’ and ‘Silver Heart’ buglosses (Brunnera macrophylla) or with a variety of purple-leaved coral bells (Heuchera spp.). Lady ferns can be used similarly in shady gardens, either singly or planted in drifts. Their elegant vertical form and lacy texture are equally well-paired with bolder leaves. Japanese painted ferns and lady ferns are listed for USDA Hardiness Photo by Richard Hawke Zones 5-8, and possibly colder. Athyrium niponicum ‘Pictum Red’ 3 Plant Evaluation Notes Photo by Pat Sommers Deparia acrostichoides The Evaluation Study The Chicago Botanic Garden (USDA Hardi- the study compared the named cultivars mid-afternoon. The well-drained, clay-loam ness Zone 5b, AHS Plant Heat-Zone 5) of A. niponicum var. pictum to determine soil had a 7.5 pH during the trial. evaluated 26 taxa of Athyrium from 2002 the similarities of their foliar traits. to 2014. The comparative study included Maintenance practices were kept to a min- Deparia acrostichoides, which was received Three plants of each taxon were planted imum, thereby allowing the plants to thrive as Athyrium thelypteroides, the previous side-by-side for easy comparison of or fail under natural conditions. Water was name for this taxon. Each taxon was eval- ornamental traits and landscape perfor- provided via overhead irrigation as needed uated for a minimum of four years but due mance. Initially, the naturally shaded trial and the trial beds were top-dressed to the protracted trial period, many were beds received either no sunlight or varying with composted mulch once each summer. grown for up to 12 years. The goal of the levels of filtered sunlight throughout the Moreover, plants were never fertilized or project was to identify outstanding lady day. In 2006, the loss of a mature river winter mulched. Beginning in 2004, trial ferns and Japanese painted ferns for birch exposed a portion of the trial site to beds were surrounded by a 24-inch tall upper midwestern gardens. In addition, western sun for several hours beginning in fence of hardware cloth to exclude rabbits. 4 Plant Evaluation Notes The Performance Report The trial began in the spring of 2002 with The majority of taxa in the trial received a pictum ‘Soul Mate’, A. otophorum, and A. the planting of Athyrium niponicum var. pictum five-star excellent rating or a four-star good vidalii received lower ratings for various rea- and seven cultivars and hybrids including rating for their overall performance. Top- sons such as heat- and drought-stressed ‘Branford Beauty’, ‘Branford Rambler’, rated plants displayed consistently attractive foliage, winter losses, and/or weak growth. ‘Ghost’, ‘Pictum Red’, ‘Silver Falls’, ‘Ursula’s foliage, robust habits throughout each Red’, and ‘Wildwood Twist’. An additional 18 growing season, and winter hardiness The ferns were generally adapted to the soil taxa were added to the trials in subsequent during the evaluation term. The five-star and environment of the test site, as long as years up to 2008. All plants were evaluated plants included Athyrium ‘Branford Beauty’, their cultural needs were met. Droughty for their cultural adaptability to the soil A. ‘Branford Rambler’, A. ‘Ghost’, A. conditions occurred in most years of the and environmental conditions of the test filix-femina, A. filix-femina ‘Encourage’, A. trial, resulting in wilted foliage, leaf scorch, site; disease and pest problems; winter filix-femina ‘Victoriae’, A. filix-femina ssp. and/or foliar desiccation on many taxa. hardiness or survivability; and ornamental cyclosorum, A. niponicum var. pictum Symptoms were more pronounced on taxa qualities associated with foliage and plant ‘Apple Court’, A. niponicum var. pictum that received afternoon sunlight following habit. Final performance ratings are based ‘Pewter Lace’, A. niponicum var. pictum the removal of the mature river birch that on foliage and habit quality, plant health and ‘Regal Red’, and Deparia acrostichoides.