Japanese Painted Fern vs Morning Glory

Side-by-side plant comparison — which is right for your garden?

Japanese Painted Fern

Athyrium niponicum

Athyriaceae · ferns

Deer ResistantLow Maintenance

Morning Glory

Ipomoea tricolor

Convolvulaceae · vines

Deer ResistantDrought TolerantLow Maintenance

Hardiness Zone Range

Japanese Painted Fern (Zones 4-8)

Morning Glory (Zones 2-11)

Overlap: Both grow in zones 4–8

Detailed Comparison

Feature	Japanese Painted Fern	Morning Glory
Scientific Name	Athyrium niponicum	Ipomoea tricolor
Family	Athyriaceae	Convolvulaceae
Category	ferns	vines
Sun	⛅ Part Shade to Full Shade	☀️ Full Sun
Water	💧💧 Medium	💧💧 Medium
Soil	Rich, Moist	Well-drained
Height	1' 6"	10'
Spread	2'	2'
Bloom Season	Non-flowering	Summer-Fall
Bloom Color	None	Blue, Purple, Pink, White
Growth Rate	Medium	Fast
Native Region	Japan, East Asia	Central America
Maintenance	Low	Low

Special Traits

Japanese Painted Fern

No — EdibleYes — Deer ResistantNo — Drought Tolerant

Morning Glory

No — EdibleYes — Deer ResistantYes — Drought Tolerant

Care Tips

Japanese Painted Fern

✓Provide consistent moisture but not soggy soil.
✓Pairs beautifully with hostas and astilbes.
✓Cut back dead fronds in spring.
✓Slowly spreads to form elegant colonies.

Morning Glory

✓Nick or soak seeds overnight for faster germination.
✓Provide sturdy support.
✓Self-seeds prolifically — can become invasive.
✓Full sun is essential for abundant blooms.

Which Plant Is Right for Your Garden?

Choose Japanese Painted Fern if you want a low-maintenance plant, and want deer resistance. It thrives in part shade to full shade with medium water in zones 4–8.

Choose Morning Glory if you want a low-maintenance plant, need drought tolerance, and want deer resistance. It thrives in full sun with medium water in zones 2–11.

Plant them together? Both overlap in zones 4–8. However, they have different sun needs, so plan your garden layout carefully.

View Japanese Painted FernProfile →View Morning GloryProfile →

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Japanese Painted Fern and Morning Glory grow in the same hardiness zone?

Japanese Painted Fern grows in USDA zones 4-8, while Morning Glory grows in zones 2-11. Both plants can grow together in zones 4 through 8.

Do Japanese Painted Fern and Morning Glory have the same sun and water needs?

Japanese Painted Fern needs part shade to full shade and medium water, while Morning Glory needs full sun and medium water. Their differing requirements mean you may need separate garden areas for each.

Which grows taller, Japanese Painted Fern or Morning Glory?

Morning Glory grows taller at 10' compared to Japanese Painted Fern at 1' 6". Morning Glory spreads 2' while Japanese Painted Fern spreads 2'.

Are Japanese Painted Fern and Morning Glory deer resistant?

Yes, both Japanese Painted Fern and Morning Glory are considered deer resistant, making them excellent choices for gardens in areas with deer pressure.

Which is easier to maintain, Japanese Painted Fern or Morning Glory?

Both Japanese Painted Fern and Morning Glory have low maintenance requirements. They need a similar level of care including regular attention to watering, pruning, and soil health.

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Detailed Comparison

Feature	Japanese Painted Fern	Morning Glory
Scientific Name	Athyrium niponicum	Ipomoea tricolor
Family	Athyriaceae	Convolvulaceae
Category	ferns	vines
Sun	⛅ Part Shade to Full Shade	☀️ Full Sun
Water	💧💧 Medium	💧💧 Medium
Soil	Rich, Moist	Well-drained
Height	1' 6"	10'
Spread	2'	2'
Bloom Season	Non-flowering	Summer-Fall
Bloom Color	None	Blue, Purple, Pink, White
Growth Rate	Medium	Fast
Native Region	Japan, East Asia	Central America
Maintenance	Low	Low

Care Tips

Japanese Painted Fern

✓Provide consistent moisture but not soggy soil.
✓Pairs beautifully with hostas and astilbes.
✓Cut back dead fronds in spring.
✓Slowly spreads to form elegant colonies.

Morning Glory

✓Nick or soak seeds overnight for faster germination.
✓Provide sturdy support.
✓Self-seeds prolifically — can become invasive.
✓Full sun is essential for abundant blooms.

Which Plant Is Right for Your Garden?

Choose Japanese Painted Fern if you want a low-maintenance plant, and want deer resistance. It thrives in part shade to full shade with medium water in zones 4–8.

Choose Morning Glory if you want a low-maintenance plant, need drought tolerance, and want deer resistance. It thrives in full sun with medium water in zones 2–11.

Plant them together? Both overlap in zones 4–8. However, they have different sun needs, so plan your garden layout carefully.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Japanese Painted Fern and Morning Glory grow in the same hardiness zone?

Japanese Painted Fern grows in USDA zones 4-8, while Morning Glory grows in zones 2-11. Both plants can grow together in zones 4 through 8.

Do Japanese Painted Fern and Morning Glory have the same sun and water needs?

Which grows taller, Japanese Painted Fern or Morning Glory?

Morning Glory grows taller at 10' compared to Japanese Painted Fern at 1' 6". Morning Glory spreads 2' while Japanese Painted Fern spreads 2'.

Are Japanese Painted Fern and Morning Glory deer resistant?

Yes, both Japanese Painted Fern and Morning Glory are considered deer resistant, making them excellent choices for gardens in areas with deer pressure.

Which is easier to maintain, Japanese Painted Fern or Morning Glory?

Both Japanese Painted Fern and Morning Glory have low maintenance requirements. They need a similar level of care including regular attention to watering, pruning, and soil health.