Here are some worth seeking out: Regal Red, which has a burgundy red center and grows to 20 inches, and Godzilla, a particularly robust selection that grows to 24 inches or higher.

The Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, Ill., recently released the results of a 12-year evauation of 26 types of athyrium, the plant genus that includes about 200 species of ferns. Of those ...

These flowerless plants are a relic of the plant kingdom's ancient past. Ferns dominated the planet about 345 million years ago, and fern motifs appear in primitive artwork.

Athyrium niponicum Pictum was named Perennial Plant of the Year in 2004 by the Perennial Plant Association. Surprisingly easy to grow, Japanese painted ferns prefer moist, well-drained soil that ...

Lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina), also known as the alpine lady fern, is an uncommon plant in Colorado but can be found in 49 out of 50 states, excluding Hawaii, making it one of the most abundant ...

Known botanically as Athyrium niponicum ‘Pictum,’ Japanese painted fern is native to Asia, but is hardy throughout Indiana and most of the Midwest. The plant grows about 18 inches tall with metallic, ...

For those seeking a more traditional look, the lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina) is a classic option. It's both delicate and hardy, tolerating a wide range of conditions, from wet soils to drier ones.

This group of ferns is among the most elegant, yet utilitarian plants for the shade garden, said Richard Hawke, who heads up the evaluation program at the Glencoe, Ill., botanic garden.

• Lady Fern (Athyrium felix-femina) is a deciduous clump fern with lacy, slightly arching fronds. Its soft green fronds can grow to 3 or 4 feet and are great grown with mounding hostas.