Athyrium — 29 species

Athyrium — the lady ferns and Japanese painted ferns — are deciduous ferns prized for delicate, often silver- or wine-flushed fronds. Cultivars such as Athyrium niponicum 'Red Beauty' and 'Ursula's Red' demand bright indirect light or dappled shade to develop their best color, while lady fern selections like 'Frizelliae' and 'Minutissimum' tolerate deeper shade. Keep soil consistently moist; never let it dry out completely. Pet toxicity varies across Athyrium species — some contain compounds that may cause harm in large quantities — so verify each species before buying if you have cats or dogs.