Athyrium niponicum 'Red Beauty'

Planting Instructions

Painted Ferns don't produce an above ground crown like most other ferns but instead have an underground network of rhizomes that produce individual fronds, similar to the Western Licorice Fern. Because these ferns are shipped dormant when the fronds have died back for the winter some gardeners are unsure of which part of the fern should be placed up. The side that faces up will usually have small buds that will erupt into the new fronds in the spring and this is the side that should face up, bury it about half an inch under the soil line. Spread the roots out so they are not all clumped together as much as possible and water well after covering the plant with soil.

Watering and Soil

Ferns prefer to have consistent water through the summer but avoid keeping the ground too wet - lightly moist is ideal. If you are planting ferns in poor soil or boggy locations you can pile up shredded landscaping bark or aged compost and plant directly in that. Painted Ferns naturally grow in decades or centuries worth of decaying fallen needles and branches and don't actually need to grow directly in the soil. Just keep in mind that fresh materials consume a lot of nitrogen as they decompose so adding fertilizer each year ensures the plants will have access to enough to grow to their full potential. Organic matter dries out faster than soil and often doesn't absorb water again very well after drying out completely so drip systems or regular watering greatly improve water retention.