Sunset Fern

Also known as the scaly-foot fern for its unusual scaly rhizome, Dryopteris lepidopoda is grown particularly for its lovely, changing colour. It’s a vigorous, semi-evergreen, clump-forming fern with a shuttlecock-like habit and divided fronds. The emerging growth in spring is pinkish-orange, turning bronze, then pale green before maturing to a deeper green. Cut away damaged fronds before the new growth emerges in spring. A choice, architectural fern, interesting for its varying colour, sunset fern is good as a specimen in a shady bed or courtyard.

Site: Sheltered
Soil: Any fertile, cool, moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil, acid to neutral preferred
Position: Partial shade, full shade
Season of interest: All year, spring in particular
Hardiness: Very hardy
Height: up to 3’ (90cm) Spread: 2’ (60m)