Growing guide · Perennials

Athyrium filix-femina var. angustum 'Lady in Red'

How to grow Lady Fern 'Lady in Red'.

Lace on red stems. Native, too.

Light
Part sun, shade
Water
Moderate
Zones
3–8
Size
2–3 ft tall, 18–24 in. wide
Spacing
18–24 in. apart.
Pets
Not on the ASPCA pet-safe list; keep it out of reach
See sizes · from $29.99
Lady fern with lacy light green fronds on bright burgundy-red stems

Light

Part shade to full shade. A little morning sun brightens the stems.

Water

Keep evenly moist. Dry soil browns the fronds.

Planting and soil

Plant in spring or early fall with the crown at the surface, in soil with plenty of organic matter.

Feeding

Compost or leaf mulch in spring.

Pruning

Cut old fronds to the ground in early spring.

Through the year

Fronds unroll in spring. Full and lacy all summer. Dies back with frost.

If something's off

Fronds brown and crisp in dry soil or sun; in a hot drought it may go partly dormant and return next spring.

Plays well with

Plant it with friends.

Hosta 'Humpback Whale'
Hosta 'Humpback Whale'Hosta 'Humpback Whale' from $36.99
Coral Bells 'Black Taffeta'
Heuchera 'Black Taffeta'Coral Bells 'Black Taffeta' from $35.99
Lungwort 'Dark Vader'
Pulmonaria 'Dark Vader'Lungwort 'Dark Vader' from $34.99

Why we stock it: A native fern with color in the stems, not just texture.

Grows wild in 31 states (USDA PLANTS records).

That's everything we know about growing it. Thanks for reading.

Know someone with the right spot? Send them this.

Next
Find your next plant →
All perennials →How we label →
The Sunday Tip · every Sunday

One good plant idea,
every Sunday.

What to plant this week in your zone, every Sunday. New ways to plant and odd tricks that actually work.