![]() While this adaptability to different conditions is admirable, in my experience Autumn ferns seem to lose their copper color more quickly when grown in full sun, so if you want to preserve this beauty it is probably best to plant in full or partial shade. ![]() In open spots where the fern is exposed to sun throughout the day, it should be well watered (around the rhizome and roots, in the evening or morning) to deal with the combination of intense sun and dryness. Sun exposureĪutumn ferns can tolerate a wide range of different light levels – from deep shade to full sun. In my fernery in the UK Midlands (equivalent to USDA zone 8), Autumn ferns remain bushy and impressive all through the winter, and only lose some of the vibrancy of their greenness – becoming more lime green or yellow. It would struggle in more northerly states.Īutumn ferns are usually evergreen, but can be semi-evergreen in colder climates and lose fronds in harder winters. It is tolerant of cold temperatures down to around -10 ☏ (-20 ☌), and so can be successfully grown in USDA hardiness zone 6 or higher. The Autumn fern is native to east Asia: Japan, China, Korea and the Philippines. If it is planted too high, watering can erode the soil around the rhizomes and roots and stress the plant. When first planted out from a pot, the base of the crown should be sunk to the level of the soil surface, before mulching. It can take 5 to 10 years to reach full maturity. The crown typically grows to around 2 ft under normal conditions, but can reach up to 3 ft (1 m) in height and spread under optimal conditions. The texture is glossy, and once the fertile fronds mature, characteristic red sori (the circular packets of spores) form on the underside. The fronds are triangular and “bipinnate” with the leaflets being divided twice. The new growth in spring is red/pink colored and fades to a coppery tinge, and it is this feature that gives the fern its common names (as it is reminiscent of the shades of Autumn). Fiddleheads emerge from a clump of rhizomes at the base of the crown, forming a classic “shuttlecock” shaped bush of foliage. Common namesĪutumn ferns are crown-forming and do not spread through the soil. A true all-rounder, the Autumn fern looks good in all seasons. It is most admired for the beautiful pink/red coloration of the new fiddleheads that emerge in the spring, which then turn bronze and green as they mature, often leaving a lovely coppery fringe to the tips of the frond during much of the growing season.Īs well as winning awards for its aesthetic merit, the Autumn fern is a flexible and resilient variety which can tolerate a wide range of soil types, watering schedules, and sun exposure. ![]() The Autumn fern is a beautiful, reliable, evergreen and robust fern – both a star and a workhorse of the garden.
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