Dryopteris erythrosora 'Prolifica'

Dryopteris erythrosora 'Prolifica' is a very beautiful selected cultivar of the type species with delicate bipinnate fronds that emerge pink to pinkish-red, turning at first a brackenish-brown giving the plant an autumnal colour in springtime before further turning a light green. Its pinnae are very fine and dainty, considerably narrower and more delicate than the type species and this open structure gives rise to one of it several common names, the Lacy Autumn Fern. The fronds for all their fine and lacy appearance are pleasingly starchy and leathery to the touch with a tufty resilience to the weather and wind.

The Lacy Autumn Fern is very easy in cultivation and although prefering - like most ferns - a moist humus-rich soil, humid atmosphere and shade, it is very tolerant of drier conditions and a sunnier aspect.