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This is a lovely slowly creeping Lady Fern originally collected from high elevation in China and introduced by a good friend, John Mickel. The fronds are pinnate with rounded, toothed margins and have a dark purple stipe (stem) and rachis (stalk), extending into the midveins or costules as well as the midribs of the pinnae. Common names seem to change all the time and at some point the term ‘Merlot Lady Fern’ has been applied in a nod to the dark purple coloration. I have seen some growers describe the entire frond as dark purple, which is actually inaccurate as the color is concentrated along the supporting structures of the fronds while the pinnae themselves emerge an almost lime-green color and harden off to a lustrous dark green as they mature, similar to the coloration patterns of Athyrium otophorum and Athyrium oblitescens. As an apomictic triploid, the reproductive strategy of this fern is fascinating as it will mostly spread asexually through creeping rhizome migration, but some generations may willfully decide to be dimorphic, producing both horizontally arching sterile fronds and more upright fertile fronds. At any rate, it is welcome and somewhat colorful addition to the woodland garden and prefers similar conditions to many other colorful Japanese Lady Ferns.

Cultivation Information:

Frond Condition: Deciduous to Semi-Evergreen depending on conditions

Root System Type: Slowly Colonizing

Mature Size: 12-15”, Low Arching

Origin: China, collected at high elevation of approx. 6,000’

Cultural Requirements: Part Shade to Full Shade, Evenly Moist, Protect from Slugs and Snails

USDA Zones: 5, 6, 7, 8