Japanese painted fern vs Lady fern
Close relatives in the same genus. Lady fern is the native green fern of moist woods, taller and lacier. Japanese painted fern, from Asia, is shorter and grown for its colour: silver fronds washed with burgundy, which light up a shady corner.
 Japanese painted fernAthyrium niponicum var. pictum |  Lady fernAthyrium filix-femina | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 18 in tall, 24 in wide | 2½ ft tall, 24 in wide |
| Plant | 18 in apart | 24 in apart |
| Zones | 4 to 8 | 3 to 8 |
| Light | Part shade to shade | Part shade to shade |
| Soil | Evenly moist, rich fertility | Evenly moist, rich fertility |
| Flowers | None | None |
| Leaves | Fine, herbaceous | Fine, herbaceous |
| Job in a bed | Drift | Drift |
| Pets | No toxicity recorded | No toxicity recorded |
| Deer | Resistant | Resistant |
| Native | No | No |
| Spread | Low risk | Low risk |
Rows where they differ are marked. Flowering times are for zone 5.
Which to choose
- Choose Japanese painted fern for a smaller space (18 in against 2½ ft).
- Choose lady fern for colder gardens (to zone 3) and more height (2½ ft against 18 in).
Can they grow together?
Yes: they grow in the same conditions. Beside Japanese painted fern, lady fern is tall enough (2½ ft) to stand behind it; happy in the same moist soil. They share part shade and shade and zones 4 to 8.
Read more: all about Japanese painted fern, and all about lady fern, each with a bed the planner designed around it.