(a-thear' ee-um fee' lix fem' i-nah)

Common name: Lady Fern

Family: Woodsiaceae

Height x width: 2-3' x 1-2'

Growth rate: moderate

Fronds: 2-3' long, 6-9" wide, twice pinnate, pinnae are lanceolate, pinnules are deeply cut; stalks (stipes) are tan, reddish or brownish

Sori: clustered at the pinnule base, curved to horseshoe-shaped, ripen in midsummer

Hardiness: zones 2-9

Soil: prefers fertile woodland, tolerates most

Light: part shade

Pests and Problems: none serious

Landscape habit, uses: background, woodlands massed, watersides; useful for light green contrast and fine texture in combinations

Other interest: native to northern temperate regions; from the Greek athoros meaning good at breeding, refering to the many forms of sori on various species

Other culture: low maintenance

Propagation: spring division, spores

Cultivars:

Although usually found as the species, the following of the more than 300 cultivars may also be found in U.S. commerce, with those marked * more common.
 

Cultivar	height	fronds
'Axminster':'Plumosum Axminster'
'Corymbiferum'	2-3'	bunched, heavily crested
*'Cristatum'	2-3'	variable, crested pinnae held flat
'Cruciatum'	12-18"	pinnae forked to form crosses, crested
'Fieldiae'	30-36"	tall, narrow, pinnae paired to form crosses, vigorous
'Fieldiae Cristatum'	30-36'	as above only crested
*'Frizelliae'	4-8"	pinnae form balls along midrib
'Grandiceps'	20-24"	heavily crested pinnae
'Minutissimum'	4-12"	dwarf form of species
'Plumosum Axminster'	24-30"	finely cut, uncrested, introduced in 1980's
'Rotstiel' ('Red Stemmed'):'Vernonia'
'Vernonia'	20-24"	red-stemmed, deep green
*'Vernonia Cristata'	20-24"	Red-stemmed L.F., frilled, deep green, mahogany stems
'Victoriae'	30-42"	European L.F., narrow, crested pinnae forming crosses

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