Those with shade gardens often envy the variety of colorful plants that seem so readily available for sunnier locations. We've got lots of suggestions for said shade gardens and the Japanese Painted Fern is one of them. Fronds emerge in the spring with a silvery green cast and maroon ribs, arching gracefully to about 18 inches tall and up to two feet wide. The silvery sheen is most noticeable in the spring and when the ferns receive some amount of light. This deciduous fern spreads slowly by rhizomes and may naturalize if it likes its environment. The Japanese Painted Fern makes an intriguing companion plant for container planters, in shade borders, and along the banks of streams or ponds.