Deparia japonica

Japanese False Spleenwort  Athyriaceae

A graceful Japanese fern with an understated elegance that makes it particularly useful in shady planting. Deparia japonica produces finely divided, fresh-green fronds on slender dark stems, forming a delicate but surprisingly substantial clump. Unlike some of the more flamboyant ferns, it doesn’t demand centre stage — instead, it provides the sort of quiet texture that makes everything around it look better. Excellent for woodland gardens, shady borders and beneath deciduous trees, particularly in a humus-rich, moisture-retentive soil. A fern that proves you don’t have to shout to make an impression — although, with foliage this finely cut, it is clearly rather good at getting its point across.

Height: 50–80cm
Spread: 40–60cm