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Brilliance Autumn Fern

Dryopteris erythrosora 'Brilliance'

Nature Hills Nursery
$1699
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Plant Size

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

  • Sunlight: Give this fern 2 to 4 hours of morning sun or dappled light throughout the day. While it tolerates deeper shade, some light is necessary to bring out the bright copper and orange tones of the new fronds.
  • Soil: These ferns thrive in loose, humus rich soil that stays moist but never soggy. If you have heavy clay, mix in plenty of compost or aged bark to improve drainage and prevent the roots from sitting in standing water.

Watering Requirements

Keep the soil consistently moist like a wrung out sponge during the first growing season to help the root system take hold. Once established, this fern is surprisingly resilient, but inconsistent watering during summer heat will cause the leaf tips to turn brown and crispy. Aim for deep soakings at the base of the plant twice a week if rainfall is insufficient.

Pruning Tips

This fern is semi-evergreen, so it holds its color well into winter before finally looking a bit tired. Think of pruning like a spring haircut: use sharp shears to cut all of last year's fronds down to the ground in late winter before the new fiddleheads emerge. This prevents old, tattered growth from hiding the vibrant new orange foliage that defines the Brilliance variety.

Fertilizer Needs

Apply a balanced, slow release fertilizer in early spring as soon as you see new growth poking through the soil. Avoid using high nitrogen lawn fertilizers near your ferns because an overabundance of nitrogen can cause weak, floppy growth that is more susceptible to pests. A single application of an organic compost or a mild granular food is usually all they need for the entire season.

Delivery and Shipping

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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 6-12 Week of March 2nd


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Ships in 7-10 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
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Three colors - one hardy Fern! The Brilliance Autumn Fern (Dryopteris erythrosora 'Brilliance') is a popular groundcover that offers a lively splash of color! Use a few of these for those places in your yard where fussier plants fail to thrive. If you love Autumn Ferns, you'll find this new variety features even more color and 'brilliance'!

You'll be amazed by the spring show this lovely Fern's unfurling leaves feature, in tones of orangy-red and coppery pinks. The delightful color provides decorative interest much longer into the spring than similar varieties before the mature fronds turn dark green for summer.

The arching, 2-foot-long fronds maintain their color throughout summer with a glossy green sheen that is sure to draw the eye. As the frosts of autumn approach, Brilliance gives a last gasp of color, returning to its brighter red-toned brilliance to spice up the fading landscape.

Brilliance Autumn Fern has a clumping nature with triangular, pinnate fronds. These perennial to evergreen Ferns require little care, so you won't have to fuss over it and thrive in those areas of your yard that discourage fussier plants. Great throughout USDA planting zones 5 to 8, Brilliance is so easy to grow!

Planting and Application:

Brilliance Fern brightens shady perennial beds and borders and fills in around trees and shrubs. Wind between larger plants and shrubs, allowing Brillance to spread politely between them as filler and groundcover. Their polite colonies make en masse planting a breeze! These create dense carpets of green that are perfect for erosion control and are great groundcover on slopes and hard-to-mow shaded hillsides.

Use as edging that gracefully spills over garden's edges and borders, or skirting larger trees and shrubs as a facer plant to hide their bare stems. Beautiful fringing the base of sculptures and urns, or gracing the perimeter of a Gazebo or porch. The calming Zen of this Fern, plus the mesmerizing swaying are lovely additions to your private spaces, Meditation spots, and Asian-inspired gardens.

Almost every shade garden has a spot for a Brilliance Autumn Fern! Easy to grow, adaptable to shade, and offering 3-season color, while those in warmer climates may even see this as a 4-season plant! That's because this Fern can remain evergreen all winter if you live in a frost-free climate!

These fronds even look great in planters and container gardens! Any way you use it, Brilliance Fern will be a lively addition to your yard this summer!

  • Fine-Textured Hardy Fern
  • Bright Orange-Red & Coppery Pink New Growth!
  • Deep Green Fronds All Summer
  • Arching Mounded Clumps
  • Amazing Bright Red Fall Color
  • Great Groundcover, Edging, Borders & Container Focal Points!

#ProPlantTips for Care:

Ferns are easy to grow! Doing the very best in partial sun, favoring afternoon shade, Autumn Brilliance Fern is hardy in USDA growing zones 5-9. Hotter climates may find their Fern occasionally remain evergreen and also find these do best in full shade.

Regardless of your Hardiness Zone, Brilliance Autumn is a tough Fern that can tolerate even the densest shade and even some wet soil, as long as it is not stagnant. Plant with Nature Hills Root Booster during planting, because the symbiotic ingredients work non-stop over the life of your plant. Best in soil that remains moist, that is well-drained and enriched.

Brilliance Fern is easy to grow and is surprisingly drought-tolerant once established. However, it's best to provide supplemental watering during times of drought for the lushest growth and beautiful display!

Preferring organic soil that is neutral to slightly acidic, plus a generous layer of mulch helps retain soil moisture, especially for drier soils. A 3-4 inch deep layer of mulch helps retain soil moisture as well as insulate the root system from heat and chill. These evergreen Ferns clumps may be divided in spring, but this is seldom required. Though enjoying to spread, they're easily controlled and cared for.

Prune or shear back in early spring before new growth emerges to clean up any dead debris and to give the plant a fresh, clean look for the next growing season.

  • Part Shade & Full Shade
  • Tolerates Poor Soil
  • Tolerates Wet & Moist Soil
  • Drought Tolerant Once Established
  • Cold Hardy, Easy-Care & Low Maintenance

You'll enjoy each passing season as Brilliance Autumn Fern changes wardrobes throughout the year! Order a few of these lovely plants today at NatureHills.com!

Growing Zones 5-8

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