Crested Surf Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium niponicum 'Crested Surf')
ah-THEER-ee-um nih-PON-ih-kum 'Crested Surf'

Deciduous Perennial Upright, Clump-Forming in the Athyriaceae Family
 
Buy Crested Surf Japanese Painted Fern
Size Notes Price Availability
#1 gallon Field $14.92 Likely available
11/1 - 11/8
1/24 - 4/4
Tray of 6 #1 gallons Field

Full Foliage (9/25)

$112.41 Likely available
11/1 - 11/8
1/24 - 4/4

Similar in color Japanese Painted Fern but the tips of the fronds are double crested.

Athyrium niponicum 'Crested Surf' is a Walters Gardens introduction (bred by Hans A. Hansen) that adds a wavy, crested texture to the classic Japanese Painted Fern palette of green, silver-gray, and wine-red. Each frond tip splits into a distinctive double-crested, ruffled tip, giving the whole clump a textured, surf-like movement. It forms a stiff, upright, clump-forming mound and was the first perennial fern introduced into the Proven Winners Perennials line.

Pros

  • Distinctive crested, ruffled frond tips add texture beyond a typical painted fern
  • Same easy-care, deer- and rabbit-resistant profile as Japanese Painted Fern
  • Sturdy, upright clumping habit
  • Patented Walters Gardens introduction with a documented, traceable origin

Cons

  • Fronds die back completely at first frost
  • Needs consistently moist, well-drained soil
  • Foliage color and crest definition are best in light shade, not deep shade or sun
Highlights The first perennial fern introduced into the Proven Winners Perennials line, valued for its double-crested, ruffled frond tips layered onto the familiar green, silver, and wine-red coloring of Japanese Painted Fern.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 18 - 24 inches tall. 24 - 36 inches wide.
Sun Exposure Full Shade - Partial Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium - Wet
Zones 3a - 8b (Usually hardy to -40° F)
Tags Colorful Foliage, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Filler, Full Shade, Good for Accents, Good for Borders, Good for Mass Planting, Grown For Attractive Foliage, Low Maintenance, Medium, Most Popular, Naturalizing, Normal Soil, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Rabbit Resistant, Shade Tolerant, Tolerant of Clay Soil, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Well-Drained Soil, Wet, Woodland Garden
Bloom Period Non-flowering
Flower Color Non-Flowering
Foliage Color Green, Silver-Gray
 

In The News

Commonly Planted with...

Hostas, Heuchera, Astilbe, Brunnera, Pulmonaria, Solomon's Seal, Bleeding Heart.

Photos of This with...

Asparagus Fern, Surefire Rose Begonia, Endless Illumination Browallia, Heart To Heart Flatter Me Elephant Ear, Heart to Heart Bottle Rocket Elephant Ear, Silver Falls Dichondra, Dolce Wildberry Coralbells, Rockapulco Wisteria Impatiens,
 
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 02/05 - 09/20
2024 : 05/01 - 10/05
2023 : 05/04 - 09/30

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!