Athyrium niponicum var. pictum 'Pearly white'

Japanese Painted Fern Athyriaceae

A particularly luminous Japanese Painted Fern, ‘Pearly White’ takes the familiar Athyrium niponicum palette and turns the volume down on the purple, leaving an almost frosted combination of pale green and ivory-white. The compact fronds have pale green margins and white centres, producing an unusually clean, pearly effect in shade. Young sterile fronds are grey-green with conspicuous white veins, while mature fertile fronds become more upright, with violet-red midribs and adjacent veins. 

A relatively recent horticultural selection, it was appearing commercially in the USA by 2017. Casa Flora of Dallas, Texas is one of the earliest documented US wholesale sources, listing it in its 2017 trade catalogue; however, Monterey Bay Nursery was also recording the plant by June 2017, so Casa Flora should not be credited as its original selector without further evidence. 

Best in moist, humus-rich soil in partial to full shade, where its pale foliage is particularly effective against darker greens.

Nomenclature: Athyrium niponicum var. pictum ‘Pearly White’; also widely sold simply as A. niponicum ‘Pearly White’.

● Hardiness: H6, approximately -20 to -15°C

● Height: 30–45 cm

● Spread: 30–45 cm

● Flowers: Fern; spores produced on mature fronds

● Season: Deciduous, emerging fresh in spring

● Position: Partial to full shade

● Soil: Moist, humus-rich, well-drained

● Introduction: US commercialisation documented by 2017; early wholesale source Casa Flora, Dallas