Athyrium filix-femina 'Plumosum Axminster'

The lady fern, Athyrium filix-femina 'Plumosum Axminster', has delicate, bright green, filigree leaves. This strong-growing variety has fronds that are even more finely divided than the species, giving an overall look of lush, feathery foliage. It looks fantastic planted in bold swathes with other shade-loving plants in a sheltered, shady woodland edge, shrub or mixed border. Deciduous, it starts to look tatty in autumn, so grow it among evergreen ferns or late-flowering perennials.

Grow Athyrium filix-femina 'Plumosum Axminster' in a woodland setting in part-shade, ideally in a sheltered spot as the fronds can break easily. Trim to the ground in late autumn or early spring. Propagate by sowing spores in late-summer, or by division in spring.