Onychium japonicum

Carrot fern, Onychium japonicum, is an attractive, clump-forming fern with wiry black stems bearing arching dark green, feathery fronds that resemble carrot foliage. It’s perfect for using as tall ground cover in semi shade, and looks great alongside other ferns. It provides the perfect foil for flowering plants, both in the border and the vase.

Not fully hardy, Onychium japonicum is best grown in moist but well-drained soil that doesn’t become too wet in winter. In colder and wetter regions, mulch around the base of the plant in autumn or pot it up and bring indoors until spring.