Lady Fern 'Lady in Red'(Athyrium angustum forma rubellum 'Lady in Red')
Zone: 3 to 8
Height: 1.50 to 2.50 feet
Spread: 1.50 to 2.50 feet
Bloom Time: Non-flowering
Sun: Part shade to full shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Leaf: Colorful
Tolerate: Rabbit, Heavy Shade
Athyrium filix-femina angustum f. rubellum ‘Lady in Red’, or subarctic lady fern, is strong growing and dependable. It grows shorter than the straight species, between 2-2 ½ feet tall and spreads to 3’ in five years. Its fine luminescent foliage is contrasted with a dark brilliant red stem, making it a great choice to combine with perennial borders and woodlands alike. A breathtaking flush of new fronds appears in the spring, with new leaves appearing throughout the season for a continuously fresh look.
Lady fern flourishes in bright shade and moist, rich, organic soil. Athyrium filix-femina is circumglobal but the subspecies, angustum or subarctic lady fern, runs from Greenland to North Carolina and can be found in floodplains, forest edges, forests, swamps, and woodlands. While it does tolerate wet feet, it does not tolerate clay. Athyrium tolerates sun if kept cool and moist.