Beautiful Wood Fern

Dryopteris pulcherrima

Nature Hills Nursery

$35⁶⁹

Shipping calculated at checkout.

In Stock

Enter your ZIP code to check shipping availability.

Find your Growing Zone

Plant Size

#1 Container

Product variants

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

Sunlight: This fern thrives in dappled sunlight or full shade, ideally receiving less than 2 to 4 hours of morning sun. Avoid direct afternoon sun, as it will scorch the delicate fronds and turn the vibrant bronze-green foliage a dull brown.
Soil: Plant in rich, organic soil that mimics a forest floor. If you have heavy clay, mix in compost or leaf mold to improve drainage, as "wet feet" will cause the crown to rot.

Watering Requirements

Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy during the first year to help the root system settle. Once established, this fern can handle brief dry spells, though inconsistent moisture often leads to crispy leaf edges and stunted growth. Aim for about an inch of water per week, focusing on the base of the plant rather than wetting the fronds.

Pruning Tips

Beautiful Wood Ferns are semi-evergreen and produce new growth from the center of the crown. Wait until late winter or very early spring to trim away old, tattered fronds before the new "fiddleheads" begin to emerge. This timing protects the crown from cold during winter and ensures the plant directs all its energy into fresh, colorful spring growth.

Fertilizer Needs

Apply a balanced, slow release fertilizer or a layer of rich compost in early spring just as new growth appears. Avoid using high nitrogen fertilizers late in the summer because this encourages tender new growth that cannot harden off before the first frost. A light touch is best, as over-fertilizing can lead to weak stems that flop over.

Delivery and Shipping

Preorder Shipping Schedule

We ship your plants when it's safe to transport them to your zone. Dates are estimated and subject to weather delays.

Zone 3-4	Week of March 30th
Zone 5	Week of March 16th
Zone 6	Week of March 2nd
Zone 7-12	Week of February 23rd

Shipping Rates

Ships in 3-4 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

The Beautiful Wood Fern (Dryopteris pulcherrima) is a recent variety of Fern with the most luxuriously fine-cut fronds that are soft and delicate! The feathery texture adds a graceful and elegant beauty that only something with the name Beautiful can impart to the shade garden!

In Latin, pulcherrima means "beautiful", and once you see this new variety of Fern, you're sure to understand the reason for its name! This shade-tolerant, hardy perennial Fern features richly green, arching fronds with an elegant spreading informal vase shape.

Wood Ferns are heat and drought-tolerant, with an evergreen nature that ensures year-round interest! Hardy throughout USDA planting zones 6-9, they may be semi-evergreen or perennial after an especially cold winter. Maturing into 2-foot tall and wide fountains of green finery!

Planting and Application:

Beautiful Wood Fern has a light, airy appearance and is perfect for beneath shade trees or other empty spots where you'd like something vibrant and green to fill the space. Plant some of these around trees, shrubs or anywhere you'd love some lovely, evergreen groundcover.

The Beautiful Wood Fern would make a lovely choice for any shade garden or understory beneath a canopy of trees or the shady side of your home! Versatile and hardy, Wood Ferns are sure to please you whether you use them as a groundcover, in containers, or as an accent!

Ferns are rabbit and deer-resistant and are great for out-of-the-way wooded areas and edges of your property without worry of damage. Create shady garden glens and woodland drifts with these versatile shade garden plants! You'll gain cool and refreshing beauty where bare ground once lay.

This groundcover Fern is very striking when planted in large groups and allowed to naturalize freely en masse.

Rich Green Fine-Cut Lacy Foliage
Evergreen In Mild Winter Climates
Lush Year-Round Garden Finery
Great Container Plant
En Masse, Groundcover, Edging & Shade-Gardens

#ProPlantTips for Care:

Wood Ferns are easy to grow and thrives in moist, rich, well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Handling heat and humidity fine, these Ferns do not like drying out too much, so be ready to provide supplemental moisture during prolonged heat and drought conditions. Top-dress with compost and 3-4 inches of arborist mulch to keep the roots cool, hold moisture, and block weed competition.

Divide plants in the early spring before new growth emerges. In spring before new growth begins, tidy up the mounds by removing or gently raking away any old, dead debris.

Full Shade & Part Sun
Impressively Heat & Humidity Tolerant
Any Well-Drained Rich Soil
Moderate to High Moisture
Deer & Rabbit-Resistant Easy-Care & Low-Maintenance

Add grace and beauty to your shade garden with the Beautiful Wood Fern's elegant green finery! Order enough to fill your landscape in refreshing fronds today from NatureHills.com!

Free shipping

On all orders over $199
Plant Sentry™

Compliant guaranteed
Easy returns

Hassle free returns policy
Live Chat

Talk to a real person

Growing Zones 6-9

Find Your Growing Zone!

Spreading

It took several years, only planted 4 of them, but they have spread out and filled empty shady are in my back yard. It is nice to look out and see green all year around.

Spreading

It took several years, only planted 4 of them, but they have spread out and filled empty shady are in my back yard. It is nice to look out and see green all year around.

Hi Ajax,

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your wonderful experience with the Beautiful Wood Fern! We’re delighted to hear that your efforts over the years have paid off and that the ferns have spread to create a lush, green sanctuary in your shady backyard. There’s something truly special about watching nature gradually transform your space—and those evergreen touches certainly make for a bright, calming view year-round.

If you’d like tips on maintaining your ferns for continued healthy growth or ideas for companion plants that thrive in shade, we’d be happy to help. Ferns generally appreciate consistent moisture and well-drained soil, and keeping an eye out for maple spiders or slugs during wetter months can also keep them in prime form.

Thanks again for choosing and trusting Nature Hills as part of your garden journey!

Bloom on,
The Nature Hills Plant Knowledge Team

Small size

Like the size of the beautiful wood fern as it fits my container very nicely.

Dear Kate M.,

Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful feedback about the Beautiful Wood Fern! We're delighted to hear that the size was a perfect fit for your container — finding that ideal match truly makes a difference in enjoying your plants. If you ever need any tips on caring for your fern, such as maintaining the right moisture or ensuring proper shade, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to help your fern thrive and bring even more charm to your space.

Rooting for your garden’s success,
Your Nature Hills Plant Care Team

Shade plant

Grows great in the shade and is evergreen and that is what I needed in landscape. Well named also, Beautiful Wood Fern!

Shade plant

Grows great in the shade and is evergreen and that is what I needed in landscape. Well named also, Beautiful Wood Fern!

Hi Danne,

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with the Beautiful Wood Fern! We’re delighted to hear that it thrives wonderfully in your shade garden and provides the evergreen touch you were looking for. It truly is a standout plant for adding subtle elegance and evergreen appeal in shaded landscapes.

If you ever want to keep it at its best, consider regularly checking soil moisture—Wood Ferns love consistently moist, well-drained soil but dislike waterlogging. Mulching can also help retain moisture and keep roots cool, especially during warmer months. Feel free to reach out if you want tips on pairing it with other shade-loving plants or maintenance advice!

Wishing you happy planting,
The Nature Hills Plant Experts

Beautiful Wood Fern