Coniogramme intermedia 'Yoroi Musha'

Bamboo Fern Pteridaceae

An armoured warrior in name, but decidedly more relaxed in the garden. Coniogramme intermedia ‘Yoroi Musha’ is a handsome Japanese fern forming a slowly expanding clump of upright, arching fronds, with strongly serrated, finely divided pinnae giving it a rather rakish, almost combative appearance. The Japanese name Yoroi Musha translates approximately as “armoured warrior”—a suitably heroic title for a fern that prefers the quiet life of a woodland garden. A choice plant for cool, humus-rich, moisture-retentive soils in partial to full shade, where its architectural foliage provides excellent texture among other woodland treasures. A Japanese cultivar in cultivation by at least 2011, although its original selector and date of introduction remain undocumented.

Origin: Japanese cultivar; in cultivation by at least 2011; original selector undocumented
Garden use: Woodland gardens, shady borders, underplanting and containers
Hardiness: H5 (-15 to -10°C)
Height: 60–90 cm
Spread: 60–90 cm