A radiant fern
Last weekend at the Ballyaloe Garden Festival I was very restrained, primarily because I had forgotten to take out cash, and only bought one plant – something almost unheard of! There was no lack of choice but I was chatting to the owner of http://www.shadyplants.net and trying to concentrate while my eyes were skimming the sales table and was smitten by this fern. It is a new cv. of the autumn fern Dryopteris erythrosora. The species itself is a grand thing with comparatively coarse, deep green, evergreen fronds but notable because of the young foliage that is burnished bronze. Obviously most new fronds appear in spring but more fronds are produced throughout summer so this is no boring green fern.
‘Radiant’ is a new cv that is really bright and almost tangerine in the right light and at the right stage of growth. My tiny plant only has a few leaves and only the one young one that is slightly past the ‘radiant’ stage but another is unfurling. If it is as easy to grow as he species I am looking forward to this as it develops as a useful plant for shade.
The Biking Gardener 
love the fern . almost a nightmare all those plants and no cash
I know – and I had stopped on the way for breakfast and been good and only had a sausage and egg Mcmuffin and coffee. I did not plan my finances well! Have a good weekend – looks like the weather is not playing ball
Plants for sale and no money do not sit right in the same sentence… 🙂
I know. But I did go out this weekend too and had a bit of money – slow and steady 🙂