This is another form of the ever-popular Autumn Fern with one very slight difference: the spore casings on the backside of the fronds, known as sori, appear white instead of the typical red that is characteristic of D. erythrosora, and this is actually a subspecies that has had a cultivar name applied to it. This has become very popular in the trade, but the name is somewhat confusing as it suggests that somehow the color of the foliage is different or more intense than the traditional Autumn Fern, but this is not the case at all. It still sports the same intense pink, red and orange hues on the new growth when developing fronds are exposed to ample light, and literally the only discernible morphological difference is the color of the sori.

See description for D. erythrosora: A spectacular and reliable fern from Japan which more than lives up to its pseudonym with a sensational display of color. Exotic red to coppery-pink croziers unroll into pinkish honey-green fleshy fronds which mature to a rich leathery green. Cold weather brings a hint of russet to this peerless evergreen. As if all this display were not enough it produces bright red sori on the frond reverse in late summer. Most of the plants in the trade circulating as D. bissetiana, D. hondoensis, and D. purpurella are forms of D. erythrosora. They prefer anywhere from part sun to full shade and will develop better color with ample light exposure. However, they are not at all drought tolerant and prefer to stay evenly moist!

Frond Condition: Evergreen
Mature Height: 2-3'
Origin: Japan, Eastern Asia
Cultural Requirements: Some Shade, Partly Shaded, Evenly Moist
USDA Zones: 6, 7, 8, 9