Fern · Dryopteridaceae
Sunset fern
Dryopteris lepidopoda
In other languages: Dryopteris (Nederlands) · Dryopteris (Français)
Dryopteris lepidopoda, known as sunset fern, comes from East Asia, including China, Japan and Korea. It is a compact, nearly evergreen fern about 60 cm tall and wide. The big surprise is the young fronds: in spring they unfurl pink, coppery to orange-red and then slowly turn green, like a sunset. The stalks are covered in brown scales. The foliage stays green in mild winters. Thanks to its colourful new growth it is well worth a place in a sheltered shady border or a large pot.
Light
Partial shade or shade
tolerates little sun
Moisture
Normal
no wet feet
Legal basis
Sand, loam or clay
acid to neutral
Hardiness
Fully hardy
down to -20 °C
Size
0.6 m
tall, 0.6 m wide
| Pruning months | March |
|---|---|
| Height | 0.6 m |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted |
| Poisonous to people and pets | Not known to be poisonous |
Identify
Sunset fern: how do you recognise it?
- Habit
- Compact crown about 60 cm tall and wide, with upright to arching fronds.
- Young fronds
- Pink, coppery to orange-red in spring, then slowly green.
- Mature fronds
- Leathery, fresh green to dark green, pinnate; stay largely green in mild winters.
- Stalks
- Covered with brown scales; the species name means ‘scaly foot’.
- Reproduction
- No flowers or seed: the fern reproduces by spores under the fronds.
Plants: March–May and September–October · Pruning: March
In your garden
Why grow it?
- Young fronds in a rare colour: pink, copper and orange-red in spring.
- Slowly turns green and stays green in mild winters.
- Compact, tidy crown that does not run.
- Gorgeous in a shady border, at a woodland edge or in a large pot.
- Little work: one tidy-up of old foliage a year.
Sunset fern: where does it grow best?
- Half shade to light shade; no strong sun, which scorches the foliage.
- Humus-rich, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil: sand, loam or clay, acid to neutral.
- Evenly moist soil is ideal; it does not tolerate long drought or wet feet.
- Shelter it from dry, cold wind and late night frosts. Allow 50–60 cm between plants.
- Light
- Partial shade and shade
- Soil type
- Sand, loam or clay
- Acidity
- Acid or neutral
- Moisture
- Normal
- Size
- 0.6 m tall, 0.6 m wide
- Hardiness
- Hardy (to -20 °C)
Goes well with
Maintenance
Sunset fern: when and how to plant it?
Plant in March–May and September–October.
- Plant in March–May or in September–October, when the soil is not frozen.
- Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and mix in plenty of leaf mould.
- Set the fern at the same depth as in its pot, with the crown level with the soil surface. Do not bury the crown.
- Plant 50–60 cm apart or one per pot of at least 30 cm across, with potting compost and a drainage hole.
- Water thoroughly straight away and keep the soil moist during the first year.
- Spread a layer of leaf mould around the plant, keeping the crown free.
Care
- Water
- Keep the soil evenly moist; in dry summers water generously and regularly, especially in a pot.
- Feeding
- In spring a layer of leaf mould or organic fertiliser; no more is needed.
- Mulching
- A layer of leaf mould in spring keeps the soil cool and moist.
- Tidying old fronds
- In late winter cut off the old, damaged fronds before the new ones unroll.
- Frost protection
- In a late night frost in April, cover the young, colourful fronds with horticultural fleece.
Tip: Give it a sheltered spot in moist, humus-rich soil. Cover the young fronds in a late night frost: that keeps the colourful new growth looking good.
Sunset fern: when to prune it?
Pruning months: March.
When: From late February to March, before the new, rolled-up fronds appear.
How:
- Cut the old, brown or damaged fronds off at the base.
- Leave healthy, green fronds; they protect the crown.
- Wear gloves: the scales on the stalks can irritate.
- Also remove dead fronds from the heart of the crown.
Caution: Do not cut off new, rolled-up fronds: they are very fragile.
Propagation
- Division
- In spring carefully divide a crown if it has side crowns; replant each rooted piece straight away and water.
- Spores
- In late summer collect ripe spores and scatter them on moist, sterile compost under glass or plastic. This takes months and the young plants grow slowly.
Sunset fern: how does it get through the winter?
Hardy to −20 °C.
- Hardy to about −20 °C: in most Belgian winters no protection is needed, but in severe winters it is.
- Lay a layer of leaves or pine branches around the crown and choose a sheltered spot; the foliage may turn brown in severe frost.
- In a pot: place it against a wall, wrap the pot in hessian and keep the compost slightly moist.
Diseases and pests
- Frost damage to young fronds: A late night frost in April can shrivel the tender young fronds. Cover them with fleece and cut off damaged fronds.
- Brown, dried frond edges: Too dry or too much wind or sun. Water generously, mulch and choose a sheltered, shady spot.
- Slugs: Eat young, rolled-up fronds in spring. Collect them or lay a barrier of sharp sand.
- Crown rot: The crown goes soft and brown in wet soil. Ensure good drainage and do not plant the crown too deep.
Through the year
- March: Tidy old foliage. Plant. Add compost.
- April: Plant. Young pink fronds appear. Cover in night frost.
- May: Plant. Colourful young fronds; keep an eye out for slugs.
- June: The foliage slowly turns green. Water in dry spells.
- July: Water pots and in dry spells.
- August: Water.
- September: Plant.
- October: Plant. Leave leaves around the crown.
- December: Rest. Leave green foliage.
You and this species
Did you know?
- The species name lepidopoda comes from Greek and means ‘scaly foot’ (lepis = scale, pous = foot).
- The English name ‘sunset fern’ refers to the pink to orange-red colour of the young fronds.
- Ferns have no flowers or seeds: they spread by spores that ripen under the fronds.