To turn a shady area into a lush space for fascinating foliage, make sure you include Athyrium 'Metallicum'—it’ll work wonders with its steely good looks! The silvery-grey foliage gives this remarkable Athyrium, also known as painted lady fern, a modern, sculptural look. These fronds uncurl in a fascinating way from tight coils in spring, and flaunt a frosted appearance which looks cool and bright from spring to autumn. Take a closer look and you’ll see the most perfect shade of purple running through Athyrium 'Metallicum's veins.  

Favouring full or dappled shade and damp soil, this Athyrium 'Metallicum' fern has a timeless beauty which will stand out in any low-light space, be it a woodland stumpery or a secluded patio area. It’s low in height which makes it a pretty filler for seasonal mixed planters, or handy for the front of a border. Hardy perennial Athyrium niponicum f. metallicum is deciduous so it will naturally die back for winter, which provides the perfect opportunity to underplant with spring bulbs like shade-loving Scilla sibirica which will be in bloom among the emerging fronds, or in a combination with shade tolerant perennials like Aquilegia, Brunnera, or Thalictrum.