Comments on: Athyrium Beautiful Garden Ferns

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:10:35 +0000

Easygardener, they do seem to have a range of colours in A. niponicum. My ‘Ghost’ ferns are very silvery, with the darker coloured midribs. Because it has many fronds, you really notice it.

By: easygardener

easygardener — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:49:43 +0000

I like Athyriums too – I’ve just bought ‘Ursula’s Red’ after spending ages comparing the plants in the shop to see which of them had the best colour – I find the colour can be very variable sometimes. I would like ‘Ghost’ but haven’t come across it yet. I want to see it before I buy!

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:52:06 +0000

Gail, The Polystichum sounds like a great fern for your garden conditions, and a good mixer. Ferns do pair well with wildflowers, making pretty bouquets right in the garden bed.

By: Gail

Gail — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:26:56 +0000

Ferns are so luxurious and good companions for spring and summer wildflowers! I am lucky to be able to grow evergreen Christmas Ferns (Polystichum acrostichoides)….it can take the dry shade. gail

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:41:50 +0000

Wurzerl, the ferns make such pretty patterns in the shade, and give such rich texture. For such delicate looking ferns, the Athyrium are very hardy.

By: Wurzerl

Wurzerl — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:50:27 +0000

Wonderful! The ferns are really the stars together with hostas in the shadow! I ‘m cultivating in the shadow border in the same way like you do.

Have a great time. Wurzerl

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:59:51 +0000

Joy, I love the intricate patterns of the fern fronds. It would be hard to see your Lady in Red behind the tree, but if you are getting new little ones, then it must not mind the location. I’ve found it very easy to divide the lady ferns, so maybe you could reach behind and dig a good chunk. The last time I dug up my lady ferns to move them, one accidentally landed upside down, snapping most of the fronds. A few months later I hardly noticed the damage, with all of the new growth. I like the way they keep sending up fronds, giving that lush look.

By: Joy

Joy — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:32:41 +0000

We share a lot of ferns together ! I can’t imagine having a garden without them .. I do have a problem with my Lady-in-Red , it is stuck behind my Sumac and I would love to move her or at least slice a chunk away from her to give it more room and have a division I can plant else where .. it has thrown babies and I have located them in different parts of the garden. But this “stuck behind the sumac” problem has me wondering what to do ?
Ghost on the other hand is one happy fern .. and my Japanese cultivars with the Christmas fern .. all seem to be smiling this year : )

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 01:56:24 +0000

Barbara, I really like the way that Ghost show up in the shade. It stands out against the darker areas. I have some near some silver coloured Brunnera, and the two look good together. It’s not a bad size now, but I would love for it to be even bigger. I’ve had it for 3 years, so maybe it’s time for a growth spurt.

By: Barbara

Barbara — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 23:57:02 +0000

Athyrium are my all time favourite ferns. Don’t be surprised if Ghost sneaks up on you (doesn’t that sound scarey). Mine was fairly small – then in year 4 – it just started to really grow – it is taller and wider than all the other athyrium – including ‘Lady in Red’.