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Understanding Our Container Sizes
At Nature Hills, our plants are sold in industry-standard nursery containers. You will notice we use the word "container" rather than "gallon." Container numbers follow a nursery trade size standard, not liquid volume. The number tells you the plant's size category and general maturity level. A larger container means a more established plant with a stronger root system.
Quart 6 mo to 1 yr#1 Container 1 to 2 yrs#2 Container 2 to 3 yrs#3 Container 3 to 4 yrs#5 Container 4+ yrs
The same variety, Green Gem Boxwood, in each container size. The measuring stick is marked in inches.
Container Sizes
Quart
Plant age: 6 months to 1 year Best for:Ground covers, perennials, ornamental grasses What to expect: Our smallest and most affordable size. Well-suited for planting in multiples across a large area. Allow 1 to 2 seasons for full establishment.
#1 Container
Plant age: 1 to 2 years Best for:Shrubs, perennials, smaller trees What to expect: About the size of a large coffee can. A well-developed root system in a manageable size. Good value choice when you have time to let the plant grow into the space over a season or two.
#2 Container
Plant age: 2 to 3 years Best for:Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment What to expect: A noticeable step up from a #1 in both plant size and root development. Good choice when you want visible presence without going to a larger size.
#3 Container
Plant age: 3 to 4 years Best for: Most plants and most situations, including flowering trees, shade trees, evergreen shrubs What to expect: Our most popular size. Strong, developed root system. Plants in a #3 container make an immediate visual impact from day one. If you want a head start rather than waiting seasons for a plant to fill in, this is typically the right choice.
#5 Container and Larger
Plant age: 4 to 5+ years Best for: Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact What to expect: Large, mature plants ready to make an immediate statement in your landscape. We also carry #7 and larger sizes for select varieties.
Why "Container" and Not "Gallon"?
Nursery container sizes follow an industry trade standard established for the nursery and horticulture industry. The number is a size designation, not a measurement of liquid volume. Actual soil volume varies by plant type, root mass, and growing medium. Using "container" is the accurate industry term. When you see #1, #2, or #3, think of it as the plant's size tier, not a gallon measurement.
Root Pouch Containers
Some Nature Hills plants arrive in a Root Pouch, a breathable fabric container made from 100% recycled materials. Root Pouches encourage denser root development through air pruning, which discourages root circling and promotes a stronger, more fibrous root ball at the time of planting.
There are two types. Knowing which one you have changes how you plant:
Degradable (brown or tan fabric): Plant the entire pouch directly in the ground. The fabric breaks down naturally in the soil over time.
Non-degradable (black or gray fabric): Remove the pouch before planting. Cut the bottom open with scissors, then peel the sides away. The fibrous root ball will hold its shape.
Not sure which type you have? Check the tag on your plant or contact us and we will confirm.
The Blue Star Fern gets both halves of its name honestly: its large, deeply lobed fronds carry a blue gray to gray green cast, and its creeping rhizomes are densely covered in golden brown scales that give rise to common names like Golden Polypody and Gold Foot Fern. It grows as an epiphyte in the wild, climbing and cascading across trees and rocks rather than staying rooted in soil, which is why it tolerates a bit more drying out between waterings than most ferns.
Give it dappled sunlight to partial shade, water deeply and let it dry out somewhat between waterings, and its blue gray color will be at its best in bright, indirect light. Its horizontally creeping habit makes it a natural fit for a hanging basket or a shallow, wide pot, and it is hardy outdoors in USDA zones 8b through 13b.
Choose your size at checkout, 4, 6 or 8 inch, and bring home the Blue Star Fern for a distinctive blue gray houseplant.
Planting & Care
Light
Dappled sunlight to deep or partial shade suits this fern well. Conditions that mimic its natural habitat, partial sun with medium to high humidity and good air circulation, work best.
Water
Water deeply until it drains from the pot, then let it dry out somewhat between waterings. This plant tolerates drying out better than many other ferns thanks to its epiphytic nature.
Humidity and Temperature
Medium to high humidity is preferred, and browning fronds are a sign the plant needs more. Keep it in typical home temperatures, 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Soil and Feeding
Use a mix high in organic matter, such as loam, sand, or shallow rocky soil, with an acidic pH under 6.0 and good drainage. Feed monthly at half strength with a balanced liquid fertilizer during the growing season.
Growth and Propagation
It grows as a cascading, climbing, creeping epiphyte at a medium growth rate. Propagate by dividing the creeping, scaly rhizomes, making sure each division has at least one growing point attached.
Pets
There is no established source confirming whether Phlebodium aureum is toxic or non-toxic to pets, so we are not making a claim either way. Keep it out of reach as a general precaution.
Delivery and Shipping
Shipping Rates
Ships in 3-5 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected
Under $50
$9.99
$50 - $99.99
$14.99
$100 - $149.99
$16.99
$150 - $198.99
$24.99
$199+
FREE
✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee
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Type to search specs, description, care, FAQ, and shipping.
Why do the fronds look dull green instead of blue?
The blue gray coloring is most vivid in bright indirect light and moderate humidity. Low light can shift new growth toward plain green.
Can it tolerate missed waterings?
Yes, more than many ferns, because it is an epiphyte adapted to drying out somewhat between rains in the wild.
How is it propagated?
By dividing the creeping, scaly rhizomes. Each division needs at least one growing point, or frond bud, attached.
Why are the fronds turning brown at the tips?
Usually a sign the plant needs more humidity.
Does it need a hanging basket?
It is well suited to hanging baskets or shallow, wide pots because of its horizontally creeping rhizome growth habit.
What is the "golden" or "gold foot" reference in its other common names?
The rhizomes are covered in dense, golden brown scales, giving rise to common names like Golden Polypody and Gold Foot Fern.
Is it safe around pets?
There is no established source confirming whether this species is toxic or non-toxic to pets, so we are not making a claim either way. Keep it out of reach as a general precaution.
Extend your plant protection to a full year with Growing & Glowing Guarantee Plus, the 1-year warranty.
Every plant already includes our free 45-day guarantee, and plants delivered after October 15 are covered through May 1. Add Plus once at checkout and it covers every eligible plant in your order, including plants in containers, when they are properly planted and cared for.
What you get:
Store credit for the cost of your plant
Free shipping on your next order, so the replacement ships free
Coverage through one year from delivery
To file a claim: Email a photo of each plant to support@naturehills.com within 7 days of noticing the issue, or reach us through our contact page.
Not covered: Improper planting, weather extremes, pest or wildlife damage, or plants outside their recommended zone. Annuals, bulbs, grass plugs, and hard goods are not eligible.
