Athyrium 'Metallicum'
"Painted lady fern"
Orders placed before 1 March 2025
You can expect your order in February/March 2025
Orders placed 1 March - 15 April 2025
You can expect your order in March/April 2025
Orders placed 16 April - 15 May 2025
You can expect your order within 10 business days
UK orders over £50
Free shipping
UK orders under £50
£4.99
Northern Ireland orders under £50
£5.99
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Description
To turn a shady area into a lush space for fascinating foliage, make sure you include Athyrium 'Metallicum'—it’ll work wonders with its steely good looks! The silvery-grey foliage gives this remarkable Athyrium, also known as painted lady fern, a modern, sculptural look. These fronds uncurl in a fascinating way from tight coils in spring, and flaunt a frosted appearance which looks cool and bright from spring to autumn. Take a closer look and you’ll see the most perfect shade of purple running through Athyrium 'Metallicum's veins.
Favouring full or dappled shade and damp soil, this Athyrium 'Metallicum' fern has a timeless beauty which will stand out in any low-light space, be it a woodland stumpery or a secluded patio area. It’s low in height which makes it a pretty filler for seasonal mixed planters, or handy for the front of a border. Hardy perennial Athyrium niponicum f. metallicum is deciduous so it will naturally die back for winter, which provides the perfect opportunity to underplant with spring bulbs like shade-loving Scilla sibirica which will be in bloom among the emerging fronds, or in a combination with shade tolerant perennials like Aquilegia, Brunnera, or Thalictrum.
Ferns can be helpful in eliminating or preventing pollution, because they are able to remove heavy metals from the air and the soil.
Key features
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Comes back every year
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Loved by pollinators
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Great for shade
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In peat-free compost
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Low maintenance
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RHS Award (AGM)
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Fully hardy
Specs & details
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Botanical name
Athyrium niponicum f. metallicum
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Plant size
1
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Established height
50-70cm
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Established spread
30-50cm
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Plant spacing
5 plants per m2
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Leaf colour
Green, white, purple vains
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Habit
Upright
Clump-forming -
Life cycle
Perennial
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Hardiness
Fully hardy
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Years to establish
2-3 years
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Sunlight
Full shade
Partial shade
Dappled shade -
Position
Sheltered
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Suitable for
Large containers
Borders
Cottage gardens
Low maintenance gardens
Pots -
Soil acidity
Any
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Soil moisture
Damp
Free draining -
Soil type
Loam
Clay
Loam-based compost
Sandy -
Growing skill
Easy to grow
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Scented
No
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Pollinator-friendly
Yes
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Mouse resistant
No
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Rabbit resistant
Yes
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Deer resistant
Yes
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Toxicity
No report
Plant calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | July | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- Planting
- Flowering
Useful information
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Soak your Athyrium 'Metallicum' roots in water for 3-6 hours prior to planting.
Plant your "Painted lady fern" bare roots into temporary pots with a multipurpose compost in spring and grow-on in a sheltered spot outdoors.
Choose a pot which comfortably fits the bare roots. Some have a noticeable crown which should be just below the soil surface with any top growth exposed.
Plant out into borders or permanent containers in late spring or early summer once in full growth. Choose a position in sun or shade depending on the variety.
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Orders placed before 1 March 2025
You can expect your order in Feb/March 2025Orders placed 1 March - 15 April 2025
You can expect your order in April 2025Orders placed 16 April - 15 May 2025
You can expect your order within 10 business days
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