Apple Court Japanese Painted Fern
Athyrium niponicum var. pictum 'Apple Court'
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Apple Court Japanese Painted Fern - 2.5 Quart Container is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry is designed to protect both consumers and the nursery trade from invasive plant pests and diseases. Sites that display the Plant Sentry protection badge are protected from consumers buying and nurseries shipping material carrying invasive pests and diseases.
This proprietary eCommerce software prevents the shipment of a restricted plant to each state. The Plant Sentry system includes a shipment certification program. The Plant Sentry Compliance Officer works closely with NatureHills.com and each nursery or fulfillment center to ensure only compliant plants are sold to customers.
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Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Shipping
To obtain a more accurate shipment time-frame, simply enter your zip code in the “Find Your Growing Zone” box to the right. Our plants are grown all over the country and lead time on items may be different because of this. Once your order is placed, you will also receive the specific shipment time-frame information as part of your order confirmation. Once an item ships, you will receive shipment notification and tracking numbers, so you can follow along while your plant travels to your doorstep. We use FedEx, UPS, or USPS at our discretion.
Due to winter weather we have put a hold on shipping to the areas shown below in grey. You can still order now and we will ship the plant to you during an appropriate time for your zone.
Standard Shipping Rates
At Nature Hills we handle, package and ship the products you order with the utmost care to ensure healthy delivery. Shipping and handling charges are calculated based on the tables below. Please note that some items include an additional handling surcharge, these will be noted on the item's product page.
| From | To | S&H |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $19.99 | $24.99 |
| $20 | $49.99 | $29.99 |
| $50 | $69.99 | $34.99 |
| $70 | $99.99 | $39.99 |
| $100 | $129.99 | $44.99 |
| $130 | $149.99 | $48.99 |
| $150 | $150+ | Approx 28% |
Click here to see our full rates
Understanding Plant Options
Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:
- Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
- Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements
Container Plant Sizes
Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.
Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 2" x 2" x 3" | 0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts | 0.20 - 0.23 dry liters |
| 4" Container | 0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts | 0.35 - 0.96 dry liters |
| 4.5" Container | 0.65 dry quarts | 0.72 dry liters |
| 6" Container | 1.4 dry quarts | 1.59 dry liters |
| 1 Quart | 1 dry quart | 1.1 dry liters |
| 5.5" Container | 1.89 dry quarts | 2.08 dry liters |
Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Quart | 2 dry quarts | 2.2 dry liters |
| #1 Container | 2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts | 2.49 - 4.11 dry liters |
| 5" x 5" x 12" | 3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts | 3.85 - 4.74 dry liters |
Mature Plants (2-4 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| #2 Container | 1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons | 5.24 - 7.75 dry liters |
| #3 Container | 2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons | 8.14 - 12.16 dry liters |
Large Plants (3-5 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| #5 Container | 2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons | 12.86 - 20.35 dry liters |
| #6 Container | 5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons | 23.12 - 26.42 dry liters |
| #7 Container | 5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons | 26.34 - 28.76 dry liters |
Bare Root Plants
Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.
Common Sizes:
- Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
- Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet
Important Notes
Container Volume Specifications
- Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
- Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
- Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents
Growing Conditions
- Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
- Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
- Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment
Seasonal Availability
- Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
- Container plants are available throughout the growing season
- Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes
Questions?
For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.
Plant Highlights
Apple Court Japanese Painted Fern highlights at a glance!
Specifications
Specifications
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Brand
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Botanical Name
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Growing Zones
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Mature Height
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Mature Spread
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Sun ExposureFull Shade, Partial Shade
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Moisture
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Soil
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Growth RateMedium
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Fragrant
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Pruning Time
Growing Zones 5-8
The Apple Court Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium niponicum var. Pictum 'Apple Court') is a gorgeous statement in any home garden or shaded landscape! The cool colors offered on this plant can create a beautiful contrast in colors when planted near bright flowers. This fern grows from 12-18 inches tall, the perfect size for that shady corner you'd like to add life to!
Apple Court not only has lovely purple, silver, and green markings, but is wonderfully fine-textured and lacy, and then each leaf is dramatically crested at the tips and end. The finely cut fronds have a curious fountain-like form that creates vase-shaped clumps with dark stems.
A dwarf perennial Fern, these only grow 12-18 inches tall and wide! Super space-saving for small-space gardens, courtyards, and container gardening! Hardy throughout USDA planting zones 5 to 8, Painted Ferns are wonderfully deer-resistant and seldom bothered by rabbits.
Planting and Application:
Grant the shady spots in your garden some well-deserved attention. Being a shade-loving Fern is the reason why this plant is so loved! Many plants need full sun, so those dark areas can be hard to liven up! Not to worry when you get the Apple Court Japanese Painted Fern!
Rambling under mature trees and their dappled-to-shaded understories, and along the north side of your home. You'll love the silvery, gray-green, and maroon hues that eyesores into high-profile design features. While a single specimen can look extraordinary in small space gardens...this plant truly shines when massed.
Pair these Dwarf Japanese Painted Ferns with Hostas and Heucheras for a spectacular shade garden. They'll thrive in low-lying spots beside stream beds. Elevate the look of that despised hollow by the gutter with some Rushes and Astilbe, turning it into a Rain Garden, and looks lovely at the edge of a pond or water feature! Another great way to display this Fern is using them around ponds or stream banks. The natural, fun shapes the leaves grow into and the cool colors look gorgeous when planted near water.
Add silvery lushness to the Meditation Garden with Apple Court as a powerful visual element at ground level. Soften the north side of placed boulders with several Japanese Painted Ferns, then add fine gravel mulch and rake regularly in a mindful Karesansui garden.
Small enough for container gardening and as lacy fringe around a feature plant as a colorful skirt, filler, and spillers! Shady trees can look a little sad without friends near! Plant a few of these stellar Ferns underneath the tree for a full and grown look. This will make your yard feel complete.
- Gorgeous Gray-Green Lacy Feathery Foliage
- Purple, Silver & Green Fronds
- Crested Ends Add Extra Interest
- Creates a Whimsical Spreading & Vase-Shaped Form
- Perfect Specimen Plants, Rain Gardens & Mass Plantings
#ProPlantTips for Care:
This Fern is very durable and low maintenance and does best in full shade, or a bit of morning sun to bring out the colors even more in hot climates, but part shade in cooler climates. It loves moist soil and needs well-drained soil. Providing a consistent schedule of moderate water delivers the best results. However, once the roots are well-established in the landscape, these Ferns will tolerate short periods of dryness.
A 3-4 inch deep layer of arborist mulch over the root systems to keep them cool and moist. Never allow mulch to rest directly against the stems, pull it back for proper air circulation. Add a few handfuls of compost during planting to enrich your soil...and top-dress with compost every other year or so.
Plant with Nature Hills Root Booster so the symbiotic support can start working with the plant's roots for the life of the plant. Prune in early spring to trim off any winter damage and divide every 3-5 years to keep the clumps growing vigorously.
- Full & Part Shade Loving Plant
- Appreciates Regular Moisture
- Versatile Plant - Any Well-Drained Soil
- Clean Mounds In Early Spring
- Easy to Grow & Deer Resistant
There are so many details to love about this plant, it will win your heart over instantly! This is a pretty low-maintenance plant that grows beautifully on its own! Order the Apple Court Japanese Painted Fern today from Nature Hills!
