Brilliance™ Autumn Fern

Dryopteris erythrosora 'Brilliance'

This reliable, clump-forming semi-evergreen fern offers exceptional texture and color for the shaded garden space. While the species is native to East Asia, this cultivar provides a dependable pop of coppery-pink to bronze color on its new fronds in the spring, which creates a luminous effect against the mature dark green fronds. This color display continues in waves of new growth throughout the growing season, offering dynamic appeal. It is highly adaptable and robust, forming graceful, arching mounds that resist deer and pests, providing elegant structure in the middle of a shaded border or naturalized woodland garden.

Type

Fern

Height

-24

Width

-30

Foliage Type

Semi-evergreen

Sunlight

Partial Sun, Full Shade

Water Requirements

Average; best in well-drained, moist, organically rich soil, tolerates some drought once established.

Foliage Color

New growth is coppery-orange to salmon-pink, maturing to a glossy dark green; sori (spores) on the underside of fronds are a notable bright red in autumn

Flower Color

Non-flowering

Resists

Deer
Rabbits

Attracts

Design Use

Special Traits

Showy Foliage
Fall Interest
Black Walnut Tolerant
Pet Friendly

Hardiness Zones

5–8

Notes

Care: Ferns are low maintenance. Remove old, tattered fronds in late winter or early spring before the new fiddleheads begin to unfurl.
Soil & Establishment: It adapts well to heavy clay if amended with organic matter to improve drainage. Keep the soil consistently moist during the first two growing seasons to ensure a strong root system.
Winter Maintenance: The fronds remain semi-evergreen through the winter, providing subtle interest. Cut them back in late winter just before new growth appears.
Fertilizing: A light application of compost topdressing in early spring is usually sufficient. Avoid heavy commercial fertilizers.
Pests & Diseases: Generally pest-free; an easy-care plant with no major disease issues in the St. Louis region.
Plant Uses: Ideal for Woodland Gardens, Shaded Borders, Mass Plantings, Foundations, and Container Plantings.
Pet Safety: This genus is not listed as toxic by the ASPCA; however, other fern species can be problematic, so general caution is always advised.
Other: The new fronds, or “fiddleheads,” are covered in attractive coppery scales.