Autumn Fern
Dryopteris erythrosora
Autumn Fern is a perennial for groundcover, mid-border, suited to shade and partial shade and clay, loam or acid soil, flowering varies by climate.
| Type | Perennial |
|---|---|
| Mature height | 60 cm |
| Spread | 60 cm |
| Aspect | shade and partial shade |
| Foliage | Evergreen |
| Hardiness | USDA 5a-9b, RHS H4 |
| Pollinator-friendly | No |
| Pet-safe | Yes |
Where to use it in a border
At around 60 cm, it sits best along the front edge, where a low, spreading habit reads best. Give it about 60 cm of room to spread. It is hardy across USDA zones 5a to 9b and rated H4 by the RHS, so check it suits your area before planting.
It appears in our lists of shade, clay soil, acid soil, evergreen plants, pet-safe plants.
Border Builder uses Autumn Fern's height, spread, soil, bloom months and companions to place it in a full border plan for your own conditions, on iPhone and iPad.
Flowering through the year
Worth knowing
- Evergreen, so it keeps the border furnished through winter.
- It tolerates acid soil but dislikes shallow chalk.
- It tolerates a shaded, north-facing spot.
Good companions
Plants that share its conditions and style, chosen to complement its place in the border:
- Black mondo grassto edge in front
- Fatsia 'Spider's Web'for height behind it
- Hosta 'Halcyon'to edge in front
- Japanese Araliafor height behind it
- Japanese forest grass 'Aureola'to edge in front
- Lily Turfto edge in front