Athyrium 'Frizelliae'

Athyrium 'Frizelliae' is not your ordinary fern—it’s the one that turned up to the woodland party wearing pearls. Better known as the tatting fern, this delightfully quirky perennial stands out with its slender, arching fronds, each lined with perfectly rounded lobes that look like a string of green beads. The effect is both intricate and whimsical, adding texture and charm to shady borders, rock gardens, or containers. Reaching about 20cm tall, Athyrium 'Frizelliae' forms a compact clump that’s ideal for softening the edges of paths or providing an elegant contrast to broad-leaved plants such as hostas or brunneras.

Despite its delicate, lacework appearance, Athyrium filix-femina 'Frizelliae' is tougher than it looks. This deciduous fern is unfazed by frost, content in dappled shade, and happy in moist, humus-rich soil—essentially the recipe for any relaxed woodland corner. As spring unfolds, its tidy fronds emerge in neat tufts, unfurling into their signature beaded pattern that continues to impress throughout summer. Athyrium 'Frizelliae' is a plant that rewards patience and placement, thriving quietly while other garden show-offs come and go. Simple, elegant, and just a bit eccentric, Athyrium 'Frizelliae' is a fern collector’s favourite—and with good reason. It holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit, a nod to its outstanding performance and timeless good looks.