Athyrium niponicum Lemon Cream Plants that Attract Birds I knew it was a

I knew it was a winner

which sets it apart from the other Agave parviflora subspecies

dark green tongue that hangs downward like a dog that's chased far too many cars

it grows much better in open shade to a couple of hours of morning sun

Athyrium niponicum Lemon Cream Plants that Attract Birds I knew it was a(aka: Anisocampium niponicum) We probably should call Athyrium 'Lemon Cream' Japanese splattered fern instead of Japanese painted fern. This Japanese oddity is exactly what people who like this kind of thing will like. The typical lacy green leaves are speckled with lemon cream blotches, barely evident in spring but becoming quite prominent by late summer and early fall. Our clumps of the deciduous Athyrium niponicum 'Lemon Cream' have reached 18"