Eared Lady Fern (Athyrium otophorum var. okanum)

Eared Lady Fern (Athyrium otophorum var. okanum)

Elegant moisture loving fern with soft yellow green fronds and striking purple stems, perfect for shaded pond edges, bog gardens and wildlife friendly planting.

Eared Lady Fern (Athyrium otophorum var. okanum) is a beautiful ornamental fern that adds texture, colour and natural elegance to damp shaded areas around ponds and wildlife gardens. Known for its graceful arching fronds and distinctive purple stems, this fern offers a unique contrast of soft yellow green foliage against darker stems, creating a refined and eye catching addition to pondside planting.

Unlike many traditional ferns that feature only green foliage, the Eared Lady Fern stands out thanks to its delicate yellow green fronds supported by rich purple red stems. As the fronds unfurl in spring they create a layered, airy appearance that works wonderfully in natural planting schemes. The foliage forms attractive clumps that gently arch outward, helping to soften the transition between pond edges and surrounding garden borders.

This fern is particularly well suited to pondside environments where the soil remains consistently moist. It thrives in humus rich soil and performs best in partial shade or full shade, making it ideal for woodland style gardens, bog gardens and the shaded sides of wildlife ponds. When planted near water features, the plant benefits from the naturally damp soil conditions while contributing to the ecological diversity of the garden.

Although Eared Lady Fern does not produce flowers, its decorative foliage provides visual interest throughout the growing season. The fronds typically reach heights of around 45 cm to 50 cm with a spread of approximately 30 cm to 60 cm, forming neat clumps that gradually expand over time.

This plant also offers valuable shelter for wildlife. The dense foliage provides cover for frogs, toads and beneficial insects that inhabit damp gardens and pond edges. By including ferns like Athyrium otophorum var. okanum in your pondside planting scheme, you help create a more balanced and wildlife friendly garden environment.

Eared Lady Fern is hardy in most parts of the UK and can tolerate temperatures down to around minus 10°C. With its distinctive foliage colour, graceful form and ability to thrive in damp shaded locations, it is an excellent choice for adding structure and biodiversity to pondside planting areas.

🇬🇧 UK-grown aquatic plant: Grown at a dedicated aquatic plant nursery in the South of England and carefully prepared for delivery across the UK.

Key Benefits

• Unique yellow green foliage with striking purple stems
• Adds texture and contrast to shaded pondside planting
• Ideal for damp soil around ponds and bog gardens
• Provides natural shelter for frogs, toads and insects
• Clump forming growth habit keeps plants neat and manageable
• Hardy and reliable in most UK garden conditions
• Excellent for wildlife friendly planting schemes
• Low maintenance once established

Reasons to Buy

• Beautiful ornamental fern with distinctive coloured stems
• Perfect for shaded pond edges and damp garden borders
• Enhances wildlife habitats around ponds
• Adds structure and softness to pondside planting
• Easy to grow and maintain in moist garden conditions

Care Instructions

• Plant in moist, humus rich soil that drains well
• Best positioned in partial shade or full shade
• Keep soil consistently damp but not waterlogged
• Remove damaged or old fronds in early spring
• Apply organic mulch annually to retain moisture
• Avoid very dry or exposed planting locations

Flowering Period

None – ornamental foliage plant

Size and Growing Conditions

Dispatching Your Pond Plants

Your Eared Lady Fern will be carefully packed to protect the foliage and roots during transit.

Orders received by 11am Monday to Wednesday are normally dispatched on the following working day using a next working day courier service. During busy periods, dispatch may occasionally take an extra day.

To avoid plants being held in depots over a weekend, we do not usually dispatch on Fridays. Highlands and Islands orders using a two day service are not normally dispatched on Thursdays.

Available pack size:

• Pack of 3 × 9cm Pots

These ferns are supplied in 9cm nursery pots. Plant them into moist, humus-rich soil beside the pond and do not submerge the pots.

Explore more pondside ferns or browse our complete pond plants range. Need baskets, aquatic soil or planting essentials? Browse our pond plant baskets and aquatic planting supplies.