The Underrated Companion Plant That Beautifully Complements Japanese Painted Ferns

One plant that is often seen in shaded gardens is the Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium niponicum). With its fronds that shimmer in silver, green, and violet tones, this plant looks almost magical. While they are beautiful and striking on their own, they reach their full potential when paired with the right companion plant. And one of the best (and sometimes overlooked) options is the Bleeding Heart (Lamprocapnos spectabilis).

The reason why the bleeding heart plant makes such an ideal companion for the painted fern is their combined balance and rhythm. The bleeding hearts grow with beautiful heart-shaped pink and white blooms in the spring, the fern's silver and violet fronds provide a soft backdrop that enhances the bleeding heart's shades. The fern does not compete, instead, it frames and softens the visual effects of the flower. It allows the flower to stand out while keeping the display cohesive. Even beyond the garden bed, bleeding hearts are versatile enough to be grown as indoor plants.

When bleeding hearts retreat into dormancy, Japanese painted ferns quietly take over. This natural transformation makes sure there's no empty gap in your garden bed and there is a smooth transition from floral display to refined foliage. Together, the two plants create a balance that carries your shaded garden gracefully from early spring into late summer.

Both Japanese painted ferns and bleeding hearts are most commonly associated with shaded gardens. But if you set their visual effects aside, their growing needs also align perfectly with each other. The fern grows in full shade and moist soil, and the bleeding hearts thrive in similar conditions. Since both plants prefer a cool and sheltered spot, you don't need to create two different growing situations for your garden bed.

Their compatibility extends to hardiness as well. Bleeding hearts are perennials in USDA Hardiness zones 3 to 9, while the Japanese painted fern grows well in USDA Hardiness zones 4 to 9. That overlap means that gardeners across most of the country can successfully grow the pair without much intervention. Both also love soil that is slightly acidic, something that enhances the fern's foliage color and supports the bleeding heart's vigor.

If you want to successfully care for the bleeding heart and the fern, you need to provide them with the correct water requirements too. You're in luck, because both plants prefer evenly moist conditions, but not soggy ground. So you need a similar watering schedule that works for both. You can also use mulch around the base of the plant to retain moisture and regulate temperature. 

Don't like the bleeding heart plant? Japanese painted ferns also do well alongside lungwort (Pulmonaria spp.) and they're a favorite companion plant for hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) as well.