Autumn Fern

Common Names

Autumn Fern, Japanese Shield Fern, Japanese Red Shield Fern, Autumn Brilliance

Summary

Dryopteris erythrosora, commonly called Autumn Fern or Japanese Shield Fern, is a clump-forming, arching fern native to East Asia, and it grows about 18–30 inches tall and wide, with fronds that emerge coppery-bronze or coppery-pink in spring and mature to glossy green, sometimes with coppery tips, giving a two-tone, textured look, the foliage is evergreen or semi-evergreen and it prefers partial to full shade, thriving in moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil, tolerating some sun when shade is provided, it is deer- and rabbit-resistant and hardy in USDA zones 5–9; in cultivation, it thrives in shade and moist, humus-rich soil, maintaining even moisture and benefiting from mulch to preserve humidity, and can tolerate some sun with shade in hotter regions, it is versatile in landscapes, suitable for woodland gardens, shaded borders, groundcovers, rock gardens, and container plantings, and can be propagated by division, the copper-red new growth provides year-round interest and combines well with other shade-loving plants.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

18-24 inches

Spread

18-24 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 5-9

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally partial shade; tolerates shade to full shade

Soil Type

Moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil, pH about 5.5–7.0

Soil Drainage

Moist, well-drained soil that is not waterlogged.

Soil pH

5.5-7.0

Bloom Color

Insignificant

Bloom Time

Non-flowering

Foliage Color

Copper-red when young, maturing to green

Fall Foliage Color

Orange-red to coppery-red hues

Leaf Lifecycle

Semi-deciduous

Growth Rate

Medium growth rate; reaches about 1 to 3 feet in height or spread in 5 years.

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter

Propagation Methods

Division, Spores

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts butterflies