If you have ever tried a plant in the shady part of your garden or dedicated a certain area for shade loving plants, you have probably ran across ferns. There are literally hundreds of them to choose from. With a wide range of plant form, size and always with a beautiful delicate texture, one of my old time favorites is the Japanese painted fern. If you will take a little closer, look at the leaf or front, you can see how this plat got its name.
This plant looks as though it has been meticulously hand-painted. With its burgundy veining and the lighter colors give it almost a metallic look. This soled variegation helps the plant to stand up, make a stronger statement in shady areas and it also provides a nice contrast to other shade-loving perennials like casters, astilbie, and coral bells. Last year, when I planted these, they were really quite small. They were just in forage pots and as you can see, over the past season, they really flourished. Whenever I plant Japanese painted fern or any other fern for that matter, I always like to incorporate a lot of rich humus in the soil and if I can, in the form of compost like this. Since it has done so well, I am adding a few more to the base of this tree. When I fertilize them, I mix a solution that is half the recommended stirring. You see, ferns are more delicate than any other plant you might plan in your garden. Now, if you are looking for a plant that has beautiful foliage as pretty as a bloom, you might get one of this hearty little perennials a try.
From the garden, I am Allan Smith.
If you would like more information on this topic or any other gardening topic, just check out my website, PAllanSmith.com.
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