Japanese Painted Fern Plant Profile

Japanese Painted Ferns Plant Profile

Japanese Painted Ferns (Athyrium niponicum) are perennial plants that highlight shady spots in the garden.

They are native to eastern Asia and are hardy to zones 3 to 8. The mature size is about 18 inches tall and wide.

The silvery highlights are the hallmark characteristic of this beautiful fern, but many cultivars also have red mid-ribs such as the award-winning cultivar ‘Pictum’. The cultivar 'Silver Falls' received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. Other popular cultivars include ‘Ghost’ and ‘Burgundy Lace’.

Japanese Painted Ferns make great garden accents and look good featured in containers.

Ferns do not have flowers so they do not attract pollinators, but they do assist wildlife by providing shelter and hiding spots.

They are deer-proof and have few pests. They thrive in consistently moist, well-draining, acidic soils with lightly dappled to full shade Japanese Painted  Ferns also appreciate a top-dressing of composted leaves.

These ferns are low-care. By late winter, you will want to cut them back though as they will look a bit ratty and tattered. Divide Japanese Painted Ferns in early spring just as new fiddleheads emerge or in the early fall. Do so every few years to maintain the plant’s vigor.

Japanese Painted Ferns  - You Can Grow That!

 

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine.

Editing by Koree Perry

Photos, Videos, Text, and Audio by Kathy Jentz

 

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If you liked this video, we think you will like these other Plant Profiles:

Hardy Ferns Plant Profile –

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2021/05/plant-profile-hardy-ferns.html

Horsetail Plant Profile –

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2025/06/horsetail-plant-profile.html

Staghorn Sumac Plant Profile –

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2020/08/plant-profile-tiger-eyes-cutleaf.html

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Win a copy of Folium: A Gorgeous Compendium of Beautiful Leaves in the July 2026 Washington Gardener Reader Contest

For our July 2026 Washington Gardener Reader Contest, we are giving away a copy of Folium: A Gorgeous Compendium of Beautiful Leaves by Jeanne Batiste (prize value: $35, Publisher: Smith Street Books. Publish date: September 1, 2026, Amazon affliate link: https://amzn.to/4f5qoFD). 

   Folium is an exquisite treasury of beautiful foliage from botanical artists through the ages. Immerse yourself in the verdant textures, forms, and moods as each page unveils the majesty of trees and leaves through the eyes of artistic and scientific visionaries. This anthology celebrates the universal language of plants—symbols of life, endurance, and renewal—that have inspired and grounded the human spirit throughout history. This enchanting volume will grace your living space and transport you to a world where branches whisper stories and beauty takes root through time. The author, Jeanne Batiste, is a writer and plant obsessive who lives in London, near her favorite place in the entire world: Kew Gardens.

   To enter to win the book, send an email by 5:00pm on Friday, July 31, to WashingtonGardenerMagazine@gmail.com with “Folium” in the Subject line. In the body of the email, tell us what your favorite article was in the July 2026 Washington Gardener issue and why. Please include your full name and mailing address. Winners will be announced and notified on August 1. Entry comments might be published. 

Monday Thoughts: “Faced with planetary crisis ... What difference can an individual make in the face of such vast and seemingly insurmountable problems? The answer, as gardeners around the globe are discovering, is to create a little patch of hope in your own backyard.” ~ Isabella Tree

“Faced with planetary crisis ... What difference can an individual make in the face of such vast and seemingly insurmountable problems? The answer, as gardeners around the globe are discovering, is to create a little patch of hope in your own backyard.” ~ Isabella Tree

GardenDC Podcast Episode 294: Designing Plant Systems

In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with landscape architect Thomas Rainer* about designing plant systems. The plant profile is on Dwarf Comfrey and we share what's going on in the garden as well as some upcoming local gardening events in the What's New segment. We close out with the Last Word on "Secret Letters of the Garden" from Christy Page of GreenPrints.

*You can order Thomas Rainer's book Planting in a Post-Wild World at https://amzn.to/4f0EoPy 

This link is to our Amazon affiliate account and we may earn a few pennies from these sales, 

but it wil not impact your purchase price.

BTW, YOU can become a listener supporter for as little as $0.99 per month! 

See how at: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/subscribe

If you liked this episode, you may also enjoy listening to:

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 89: Working with a Landscape Designer

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/01/gardendc-podcast-episode-89-working.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 245: Innovative Approaches to Meadow Plantings

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2025/06/gardendc-podcast-episode-245-innovative.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 173: Native Plant Fallacies

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2023/11/gardendc-podcast-episode-173-native.html

Show Notes will be posted after 7/21/2026.

This episode is archived at: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7IxCQ5OJvC02ArL0MGUI6t?si=xdAJKgnOQQy9XzuF4X93JA

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We welcome your questions and comments! You can leave a voice mail message for us at: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/message Note that we may use these messages on a future episode.

And be sure to leave us a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform plus share us on social media with #GardenDC, so other gardeners can find us too!

Episode Credits:
Host and Producer: Kathy Jentz

Music: Let the Sunshine by James Mulvany

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*You can order Thomas Rainer's book Planting in a Post-Wild World at https://amzn.to/4f0EoPy 

This link is to our Amazon affiliate account and we may earn a few pennies from these sales, 

but it wil not impact your purchase price.

Fenton Friday: Going to Seed

This week the heat broke and we had lots of rain. That means the weeds are now rampant--especially the Morning Glory vines and Mulberry tree seedlings.

The Dill flowerheads are starting to dry on the plant. I cut them to save the seeds for culinary use (mainly making pickles) and sharing.

The Lettuces have bolted. In other words, they are going to flower and forming seeds. (See the Lettuce flowers in the photo above.) I'll cut the flowers to collect those seeds in another week or so.

We spread wood chips along the side path. It always looks so good right after we do that--wish it lasted longer--kind of like right after you vacuum a carpet.

For the Pollinator Strip, we soaked and planted a second batch of Nasturtium seeds to replace those that didn't germinate earlier. Then we planted Celosia 'Flamma Pink' seeds in a row behindthe Nasturtium.

Everything else is coming along well. I think in a few weeks we will be able to start harvesting Tomatoes, Okra, and Beans regularly.

I cut more Dahlia flowers and was able to snip a few early Lisianthus blooms to put in bud vases.

I still need to get those Pepper seedlings planted! At this rate, I may just gift them to another gardener.

What are you growing and harvesting in your garden this week?

About Fenton Friday: Every Friday during the growing season, I'll be giving you an update on my community garden plot at the Fenton Street Community Garden just across the street from my house in zone 7 Mid-Atlantic MD/DC border. I'm plot #16. It is a 10 ft x 20 ft space and this is our 15th year in the garden. (It opened in May 2011.) See past posts about our edible garden by putting "Fenton"  into the Search box above (at the top, left on this blog).

Garlic Fest 2026

See Kathy Jentz, host of the GardenDC Podcast and editor of Washington Gardener Magazine, along with other special guests and members of the Takoma Horticultural Club at the Takoma Park Farmers Market Garlic Fest on Sunday, July 19, 2026, from 10am to12noon. We will be talking all things GARLIC--from growing tips to recipe samples!

Lamb’s Ear Plant Profile

Lamb’s Ear Plant Profile

The silver-gray basal foliage of Lamb’s Ears (Stachys byzantina) spreads along the ground by rhizomes and in early summer it sends up tall wands of purple flowers. Once the flowers are done, cut them back for a tidier garden look.

It is also known as Woolly Hedgenettle and Wooly Betony. It is native to Europe/Asia.

Lamb’s Ear is in the mint family (the square stem is a clue) and that is your indication also that this is a fast spreader when given the chance.

The soft, fuzzy leaves of this plant make it a favorite for children’s gardens and sensory learning.

That fuzziness also makes it unpalatable to deer and rabbits.

It prefers full sun and a well-draining soil. It can be planted on mild slopes and along sidewalk edges. A bit of foot traffic does not bother it and it bounces back well.

Lamb’s Ear is pretty shallow-rooted making it easy to dig and divide. Remove sections in spring or fall to fill in other areas or gift it to other gardeners.

It is considered semi-evergreen as the leaves can shrivel up and die back in cold winters. Remove any spent foliage in early spring to prepare the plant for the new growing season.

Lamb’s Ear does not tolerate wet conditions for long or high humidity. It is happiest when planted where it can get good air circulation around it. Once established, it is fairly drought-tolerant.

It attracts pollinators and is often planted in butterfly gardens. Lamb’s Ear is also used in xeriscaping and for fire-wise landscapes.

Lamb’s Ear – you can grow that!

This profile was excerpted from the book Groundcover Revolution by Kathy Jentz. Order it today at https://amzn.to/4aDHN4u (affiliate link).

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine.

Audio, Video, Photos, and Text by Kathy Jentz

Editing by Koree Perry

 

➤ If you enjoy this video please give it a thumbs up and subscribe (thank you!)

➤Remember to TURN ON notifications to know when our new videos are out

➤ FIND Washington Gardener Magazine ONLINE
~ WashingtonGardener.blogspot.com
~ http://twitter.com/WDCGardener
~ facebook.com/WashingtonGardenerMagazine

If you liked this video, we think you will like these other Plant Profiles:

~ Rose Campion Plant Profile

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/07/rose-campion-plant-profile.html

~ Dusty Miller Plant Profile

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2026/03/dusty-miller-plant-profile.html

~ Stokesia Plant Profile

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2025/08/stokesia-plant-profile.html

~ Mountain Mint Plant Profile

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2021/08/mountain-mint-plant-profile.html

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Garden Photo Show Opening Reception 2026

You are invited to view the winning images of the 20th annual Washington Gardener Photo Contest at an art show at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, VA. All 17 stunning photos were taken in DC-area gardens. Both inspirational and educational, this show represents the best of garden photography in the greater DC metropolitan region.

The photo show reception is Sunday, August 2 from 2:00-3:30pm in the Meadowlark Visitor Center's lobby. The opening reception is open to the public and is free to attend. You may also come by and view the photos any time during the normal Visitor Center hours (10am-7pm daily). The photo show runs through August 31.  

Please RSVP at our Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/share/1HeMXQznBW/

Washington Gardener Magazine is already announcing the 21st Annual Washington Gardener Photo Contest. Start gathering your images now and throughout this year. Most of the entry rules will remain the same as this year’s contest. Photos need to be taken during the 2026 calendar year in a garden-setting in the greater Washington, DC area. We will accept the entries during the first three weeks of January 2027.

Washington Gardener Magazine (http://www.washingtongardener.com/) is the gardening publication specifically for the local metro area — Washington DC and its suburbs. Washington Gardener Magazine’s basic mission is to help DC area gardens grow better. The magazine is written entirely by and for local area gardeners.

Meadowlark Botanical Gardens (www.nvrpa.org/park/meadowlark_botanical_gardens) is a park of beauty, conservation, education, and discovery. Throughout the year at this 95-acre complex are large ornamental display gardens and unique native plant collections. Walking trails, lakes, more than 20 varieties of cherry trees, irises, peonies, an extensive shade garden, native wildflowers, gazebos, birds, butterflies, seasonal blooms, and foliage create a sanctuary of beauty and nature. Meadowlark is part of Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority.

Thank you to our Washington Gardener Magazine 2026 Garden Photo Contest Prize Sonsors:

- Capital Photography Center

- Proven Winners® ColorChoice® Shrubs 

Additional prizes provded by Washington Gardener Magazine.

Monday Thoughts: “Sometimes I forget the garden is me — wild, tender, unruly, and always capable of blooming again.” ~ K.L. Ember

“Sometimes I forget the garden is me — wild, tender, unruly, and always capable of blooming again.”

 ~ K.L. Ember

GardenDC Podcast Episode 293: In Defense of Okra

In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with Chris Smith*, executive director of the Utopian Seed Project, all about Okra. The plant profile is on American Elderberry and we share what's going on in the garden as well as some upcoming local gardening events in the What's New segment. We close out with the Last Word on "Moonlight and Wildflowers" from Christy Page of GreenPrints.

*You can order Chris Smith's book The Whole Okra at https://amzn.to/4wp4sLe
This link is to our Amazon affiliate account and we may earn a few pennies from these sales, 

but it wil not impact your purchase price.

BTW, YOU can become a listener supporter for as little as $0.99 per month! 

See how at: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/subscribe

If you liked this episode, you may also enjoy listening to:

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 88: Seed Swaps and Exchanges with Ira Wallace

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/01/gardendc-podcast-episode-88-seed-swaps.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 68: Summer Vegetables

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2021/07/gardendc-podcast-episode-68-summer.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 277: Revolutionary Tomato Growing

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2026/03/gardendc-podcast-episode-277.html

Show Notes will be posted after 7/15/2026.

This episode is archived at: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4y9pIhoDUVVWjFv0eFA85P?si=Il9TKHrLSiqY7C743Pw6Zg

The GardenDC podcast is also available on -

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We welcome your questions and comments! You can leave a voice mail message for us at: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/message Note that we may use these messages on a future episode.

And be sure to leave us a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform plus share us on social media with #GardenDC, so other gardeners can find us too!

Episode Credits:
Host and Producer: Kathy Jentz

Music: Let the Sunshine by James Mulvany

PIN THIS FOR LATER!

*You can order Chris Smith's book The Whole Okra at https://amzn.to/4wp4sLe
This link is to our Amazon affiliate account and we may earn a few pennies from these sales, 

but it wil not impact your purchase price.