Athyrium niponicum var. pictum 'Godzilla' - Japanese Painted Fern cultivar

Sizes available: #1 (Trade gallon)

Basics: zones 3-8, eventually 3' x 4-6', part to full shade, prefers moist, rich, loamy soil

Common names: Japanese Painted Fern

Family: Woodsiaceae

Origin/Distribution: Athyrium niponicum is found in Japan, northern China, Korea, and Japan

Habitat: moist woodlands and shady edges

More: From the Morris Arboretum blog: "The genus name Athyrium derives from the Greek athyros, meaning doorless, and refers to the hinged indusia, a covering that protects the sorus, a collection of spore cases which are slow to open. Niponicum means of or from Japan...Pictum means highly painted or highly colored..." Can you guess what 'Godzilla' means? Don't you love this stuff?

Why grow ferns? Admiration for a group of plants that have been present on earth for over 360 million years, beautiful, leafy textures, and ecological services: all ferns provide much needed cool, shady cover for toads, frogs, salamanders, and small mammals.

Nursery: Van Berkum

Image credit: Honey Petal Plants, young 'Godzilla' on the nursery