Autumn fern has already secured its place as a good shady groundcover and a great addition to perennial beds. Now, more people are using this plant to add spark to container gardens, and it's even finding a home inside.

"Some people are using it as an indoor plant," said Jeff Cook, sales representative with Casa Flora in Dallas. "It works well in the lower light level of the home."

Autumn fern is described as a very hardy survivor and a true no-maintenance plant by the University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service. The plant has outstanding ornamental features and should be planted more often.

Dryopteris erythrosora 'Brilliance' is a more colorful cultivar of this striking plant that will certainly win over gardeners. Young fronds are lustrous and orange, and mature fronds retain a glossy sheen. The growth habit is identical to standard autumn fern, but as a whole is much showier.

"Basically it's the same autumn fern, other than the new growth is a bright color and it holds it a little bit longer," Cook said.

The basics

'Brilliance' is a top performer in USDA Hardiness Zones 5-8. Plants can reach 12-24 inches tall depending on the environment, with a spread of 1-2 feet. It has an upright, open habit and moderate density. Autumn fern does not have any big pest or disease problems.

"Most ferns are pretty carefree," Cook said. "What we fight more than anything else is scale. With any fern there can be some kind of fungus."

Cook said most scale problems can be prevented by allowing the growing media to dry slightly between waterings and avoiding wet foliage at night.

Propagation and growth

Autumn fern can be propagated by division or spores. However, Casa Flora produces plants by tissue culture and offers rooted 288-, 72- and 40-cell trays. A quart will finish in 8-12 weeks; a gallon in 14-20 weeks.

When transplanting, they advise to not bury the crown and to keep plants on the dry side to encourage rooting. Casa Flora also recommends using a plug de-lodger or a blunted spatula when removing plants from trays to prevent tearing the plant from its roots.

The preferred growing media is a peat-lite mix. Cook said the plants grow best in soil temperatures of 70°F-80°F with a pH of 5.5-6.5. Autumn fern prefers low light levels of 1,000-2,000 footcandles. A fertilizer with 75-100 parts per million nitrogen is recommended.

-- Sarah Martinez

SPECIFICS:
Name: Dryopteris erythrosora 'Brilliance'
Common name: Autumn fern.
Family: Dryopteridaceae.
Description: Plants reach 12-24 inches tall with a spread of 1-2 feet.
Propagation: By tissue culture, division or spores.
Hardiness: USDA Hardiness Zones 5-8.
Uses: Perennial beds, groundcover for shady areas and combination planters.
For more: Casa Flora, P.O. Box 41140, Dallas, TX 75241; (800) 233-3376; www.casaflora.com. University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service, P.O. Box 110210, Gainesville, FL 32611; (352) 392-1761; www.ifas.ufl.edu.

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© 2006 Branch-Smith Publishing