This deciduous to evergreen fern has a slow creeping rhizome with upright foliage and forms a clump. It produces tufts of dark green triangular outlined divided fronds that are reddish when young and the fertile fronds look similar and appear in midsummer.

Hardiness zones 7 to 10

Dryopteris erythrosora is naturally found from Japan to China growing on well drained fertile moist humus rich sandy soils. It prefers a shaded to a semi-shaded protected position and is frost and drought tender.

Autumn Fern is a terrestrial fern that has a soft appearance and is grown along borders or as an understorey plant in a woodland setting. It is also grown in pots as a specimen or in group plantings in shaded rockeries. It is fairly hardy but in cold climates may require protection in a greenhouse. It establishes from division in 1 to 2 years and requires little maintenance. ID 1296

Dryopteris(dree-op-te-ris) erythrosora(e-rith-rô-SO-ra)

Dryopteridaceae(DRY-op-TER-ee-DAY-see-ee)