Lady fern

Family: Athyriaceae. The genus includes up to 200 species, distributed in the forests of the temperate zone of both hemispheres, less often in tropical highlands.

Plants up to 150 cm tall with erect ascending or creeping membranous rhizomes and dense black roots. Leaves (fronds) in a tuft, twice- or thrice-pinnate with pinnately divided or pinnately dissected pinnules, less often simple or once pinnate.

Location: undemanding ferns for shady gardens and normally moist soils. The lady fern tolerates low, wet sites. In dry conditions its leaves turn brown, losing decorative value, especially in the second half of summer.

Propagation: vegetatively and by spores. Easily propagated by spores (the lady fern self-seeds in suitable conditions), but cultivars are preferably propagated vegetatively. Easily grown by dividing the rhizomes: kochedyzhnik gorodchaty, kochedyzhnik gorodchato-pilchaty, kochedyzhnik igolchaty.

Usage: planted as individual clumps to give shaded flower beds a distinctive character. Such plantings create a tiered effect, emphasizing the plant's beauty and the originality of its appearance.