Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Victoriae Lady Fern: A Lattice of Crested Fronds for Moist Shade
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Victoriae lady fern is a fern that makes people lean in for a closer look. Its paired leaflets cross over each other in an X pattern up the length of every frond, forming a braided lattice, and the tips are crested into small forked tufts that keep lengthening until they look like fringed tassels by late summer.
It forms a dense, cascading mound of deep green about 2 feet tall and wide. It also wants moist shade, which puts it on the opposite side of the garden from your lavender.
Victoriae at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Athyrium filix-femina 'Victoriae' |
| Fronds | Dark green, crisscrossed leaflets with crested, tasseled tips |
| Flowers | None to speak of; grown for foliage |
| Size | 18 to 24 inches tall and wide |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 3 to 8 |
| Light | Part shade to full shade |
| Soil | Humus-rich, evenly moist |
| Deer | Resistant |
Texture for the shady half
A lavender garden is a study in fine texture: narrow silver leaves and slender spikes. Victoriae brings the same kind of fine detail into the shade. Its crosshatched fronds are a great contrast to broad-leaved shade plants like hostas and coral bells, so a woodland bed with all three looks rich and layered rather than flat.
Keep it well away from the lavender itself. In hot, dry spots the fronds scorch and brown by late summer, and the steady moisture it needs would rot lavender roots. Plan the shady bed under trees or along the north side of the house, and use the Companion Plant Planner to place it beside the right neighbors.
Planting and care
- Site: afternoon shade is a must; dappled or full shade is ideal.
- Soil: humus-rich and evenly moist. A layer of leaf mulch helps hold moisture.
- Water: do not let it dry out, especially in its first summer.
- Winter: it dies back to the ground. Leave the old fronds over the crown for protection.
- Early spring: remove the old fronds before the new fiddleheads unfurl.
Ferns have few disease problems. Poorly drained soil can bring crown rot, and slugs sometimes nibble new fronds in spring.
In containers
Victoriae is also listed for containers. A large, shaded pot on a north-facing porch shows off the lattice pattern at eye level. Keep container plants well watered, since pots dry out faster than the ground.
Formats offered
It is available as a full 72-cell plug tray and as a deep 20-cell plug tray. The 72-cell tray suits mass plantings and growers; the 20-cell tray gives fewer, larger plugs. See each product page for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
Is the crested look a problem with the plant?
No. The crossed leaflets and tasseled tips are the defining traits of this cultivar, and the tassels lengthen as the season goes on.
Will deer eat it?
It is listed as deer resistant, which makes it useful in woodland gardens where hostas get browsed.
Can it take morning sun?
Gentle morning sun is fine with steady moisture. Afternoon sun scorches the fronds.
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