Athyrium Victoriae

One of two Athyrium ferns I planted this year as part of my personal fascination with crested ferns has done very well. The Athyrium filix-femina ‘Victoriaea’ are doing very well. It has been very hot and dry here in the Midwest, making watering a constant duty.

These don’t get ignored, since they are current darlings, but neither do I ignore the Athyrium filix-femina 'Frizelliae' (tatting fern) next to it. Even though it was a much bigger plant, and it gets about the same amount of attention and is in the same bed, it is doing poorly.

As for other athyriums in the garden, the Japanese painted ferns (A. niponicum) are doing OK.

As far as crested ferns, Dryopteris filix mas 'Crispa Cristata' is doing well under more harsh conditions. It looks billowy to me, with its crisped (curvy) leaf edges as well as crests.