Autumn Fern

Ferns are so beautiful, but let’s be honest, not all of them are so easy to grow, needing very frequent and careful watering and attention to succeed. That doesn’t mean you should give up, though, because not all ferns are difficult. The Autumn Fern is one of the easiest, and most satisfying, to grow. Yes, it does like moisture and shade, but it is more tolerant of drier soil for longer than almost all others, and that gives you a big step-up for success. Often as gardens mature and develop, shade increases and we want plants that will grow in it. Fill those shady parts of your garden with a profusion of ferns and it will become a magical place to walk through and enjoy. These plants may not bloom, but they have their own unique beauty, and plants like the Autumn Fern also bring color (besides green), because in spring the new fronds are a gorgeous and brilliant shade of coppery red. As they mature they gradually become green, so there is lots to see and admire in this great, easy-care fern.

Growing the Autumn Fern

Size and Appearance

The Autumn Fern is a fern that is evergreen in warmer areas, and semi-evergreen in cooler ones, meaning that some fronds will die over winter, but not all of them. It produces a clump of upright fronds (leaves) that arch over toward the end. They are up to 30 inches long, but with arching the clump stands about 2 feet tall and wide. In time new clusters of leaves sprout around it, forming a dense, larger cluster, but this plant is not invasive. The leaves are shaped like long triangles on a bare lower stem, with side stems growing out at 90 degrees to the main stem. Along these are many tiny rectangular leaflets, creating a classic ‘fern’ look to this plant. New leaves in spring are coppery red as they unfurl and develop, making this plant striking and colorful in spring, and a great garden choice. Gradually the leaves turn green, passing through many shades to get there. In winter the leaves stay green, so don’t cut them down unless they are dead. If you turn over an older frond in late summer you will see red spots neatly arranged along the underside of the smaller leaflets. These are the spore-producing areas, called sori, because of course ferns don’t flower, but spread through these spores. The bright red color of the cover of these spots – called an inducium – is a secret touch that adds to the special beauty of this plant.

Using the Autumn Fern in Your Garden

Because this fern is able to take drier conditions than many others, as well as some direct sun, it’s a valuable choice for ferns where you might have slightly drier soil. It’s a great ground cover for shady areas, under deciduous trees. Use it to line a shady path, or mix it with other shade-loving plants such as Hosta or Astilbe. Grow it too near, but not in, ponds, streams and lake frontages.

Hardiness

The Autumn Fern grows easily in most areas, all the way from zone 5 into zone 8. In colder zones it will lose some leaves in winter, but in warmer places it is evergreen. Don’t worry about dead leaves – just trim them off in spring and new leaves will come quickly. The coppery-red coloring of the new leaves actually looks even more impressive when not partially hidden by existing green leaves.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

The Autumn Fern will take a little morning sun, especially in colder zones, but it needs at least afternoon shade, and in most areas it should be grown in light full shade – the dappled shade produced by large deciduous trees is an ideal environment for it. In heavier shade, such as beneath evergreen trees, it will not grow as densely, and spring colors may be softer too. It doesn’t need especially moist soil, it will grow in most ordinary soils, but of course it will be more lush and full in damp, but not wet, soils with plenty of compost worked into them. Water new plants frequently, until they are well-established – then they will be more resistant to drier soil.

Maintenance and Pruning

There are no significant pests or diseases on the Autumn Fern, and it isn’t eaten by rabbits and normally left alone by deer too. A mulch with rotted leaves in spring – even the chopped up dead fronds are good – or some compost is great, and you can use half-strength liquid fertilizer for general garden plants too, especially if your soil is not so great. You just need to remove any dead fronds in spring, for neatness – that’s it, so this plant is super low-maintenance.

History and Origin of the Autumn Fern

The Autumn Fern, Dryopteris erythrosora, is sometimes called Japanese shield fern. The name ‘erythosora’ is given it because of those special red sori (spore clusters) that are on the undersides of the leaves. It can be found growing wild in Japan and Korea, as well as across much of China. That attractive spring color is normal, not something special for gardens. This plant was given its current name by the German botanist Otto Kuntze, who traveled around the world collecting plants between 1874 and 1876. He eventually published information about the almost 8,000 plants he collected in a revolutionary new system, called Revisio Generum Plantarum (1891). The book was a major break in the system of naming plants, not resolved until 1930.

Buying the Autumn Fern at the Tree Center

If you aren’t growing a variety of ferns in your garden, you are missing out on the wonderful look and visual variety they bring. If you have had problems with ferns in the past, perhaps with too much sun or dryness, plant the Autumn Fern. It is tougher and easier to grow than many, and a great choice – order right away while we still have plants available.