Dryopteris erythrosora 'Brilliance' RHS AGM P9

Dryopteris erythrosora ‘Brilliance’ is a show-stopping fern that brings colour to the shade garden in a way most ferns can only dream of. Growing 45–60 cm tall, it forms a neat clump of arching, finely divided fronds that emerge in glorious copper, bronze, and rosy-orange tones before maturing to a rich, glossy green. It’s essentially a fern that insists on making a glamorous entrance.

This variety thrives in partial shade, in moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil, and appreciates a bit of shelter from harsh afternoon sun. Tough, reliable, and evergreen in milder areas, it offers year-round texture with seasonal fireworks.

Interesting fact: The name erythrosora means “red spores”, referring to the rusty-red colour of the new fronds and sori — a charming nod to its naturally colourful tendencies.

Awarded the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit (RHS AGM).

Fern photo by KATHERINE WAGNER-REISS CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons