Lady in Red Fern

Light Needs

Full Shade to Partial Shade

(0 - 4 Hours Of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

2.5-3 Feet

Mature Spread

2 Feet

Growing Zones

3 to 8

Lady in Red Fern will have you singing to your shade garden enchanted by its beauty. Lady in Red Fern (Athyrium filix-forma) is grown for its quintessentially ferny foliage that will captivate you with uniquely red stems. This perennial foliage plant will be lush and brilliant green in your shade or part shade garden and can even be grown indoors as a houseplant!

Low-growing, shade and moisture loving, Lady in Red Fern is Native to North America. Use this plant in garden borders, to add foliage interest to containers, or add it to your indoor jungle as a potted houseplant. Lady in Red Fern is easy to grow and resistant to rabbits.

Lady in Red Fern Care

Choose a partial shade to fully shaded location with acidic to neutral soil, not overly rich or fertile soil. Lady in Red Fern is perennial from zone 3a to 8b. Deadheading is not needed and the plant requires little maintenance throughout the season. Water well until established.

Leave the foliage fronds to overwinter. Plants can be cleaned up in early spring to encourage new growth. Do not fertilize or do so very sparingly and keep the plant moist. If kept indoors as a houseplant, Lady in Red Fern will benefit from regular waterings and access to a humidifier.

Lady in Red Fern Spacing

This plant can reach 30 – 36 inches in height and will spread up to 24 inches. In mass plantings, plant up to 24 inches apart.