Lady Fern
Athyrium filix-femina
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Lady Fern - #1 Container is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
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- Prevents restricted plants from shipping to your state
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Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Fast, Safe Plant Delivery
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+ | $24.99 |
✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee
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
Lady Fern highlights at a glance!
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Brand
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Botanical Name
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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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Pruning Time
Growing Zones
The gorgeous Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina) has been a shade garden staple for years and for good reason! This hardy Fern has remained the picturesque image of woodland beauty!
In the wild, you will find the North American native Lady Fern living happily by streambeds, in dappled forest edges, meadows, in moist woods and thickets. Because she thrives in such challenging conditions out there, can you imagine why this Lady will excel in your home garden?
The light, grassy green fronds unfurl in the unmistakably romantic fountain shape so beloved by gardeners. The lush Lady Fern will quickly add volume to your plantings and slowly fill any shady garden spots with abundant growth!
The bright green color is consistent from top to bottom and carries a delicate, lacy texture. Lady Fern gives any shady garden an instant cool, calming, and relaxing aesthetic! Hardy throughout USDA planting zones 5 to 10, these perennial deciduous Ferns grow 2-4 feet in height, forming vase-shaped clumps 2-3 feet wide.
Planting and Application:
These lush beauties compliment so many different garden styles - from stylish urban beds, bountiful cottage borders, wild and informal woodlands, as well as sleek, formal modern rows. Lady Fern's verdant foliage shines in shadier garden beds. The lovely fronds are as perfectly suited in containers as they are in low borders.
Any shadowy area in the landscape benefits from these hardy perennials! The light green fronds almost glow in dappled shade under larger trees. The perfect understory planting adds romantic airiness, and refinement along the east-facing foundations, softening the edges of fences and rock walls.
If you have spots in your shade garden that look bare or are just looking for lovely green to fringe your front porch, make sure to include this beauty! Any gazebo, garage, or garden shed becomes your garden focal point with a lacy skirting of delicate Ferns!
When planted in drifts, the light green hue will instantly brighten any shady area with sumptuous color. Intersperse among other shade lovers such as Hosta, Astilbe, and Bleeding Hearts for a truly lush garden! Loving higher moisture environments, around the outskirts of Rain Gardens, and moderate moisture gardens, nearly any shade-to-part shade garden is suitable.
Lovely as greenery and fillers for your containers and window boxes, Lady Fern adds graceful movement and feathery appeal! Don’t forget to snip a few of the fronds to add greenery to your bouquets and floral arrangements!
- Lush, Fine Green Fronds
- Light & Delicate Textured
- Fountain Vase-Shaped Form
- Perfect In The Shade Garden & Loves Containers
- Versatile Garden Style, Borders, Edging, Mass Filler & More!
#ProPlantTips for Care:
Lady Fern has shown up in garden sketches as early as the 18th Century, so you know that any plant that has been around that long must be hardy and easy to care for!
Preferring full shade to part sun and dappled shade, Lady Fern is super easy to grow and hardy from the cold northern regions down to zone 5, to the heat & humidity in the southern states up to zone 10. These gorgeous fronds do their very best in consistently moist soil that does not dry out and are planted in rich, organic soil on the acidic side. Lady also does well in most types of soil as long as they are moist and well-drained.
Top-dress with 3-4 inches of arborist mulch to hold moisture in the soil, and insulate the roots. Just like the Southern Lady, or Red Stem Fern, this classic native plant can be divided and transplanted in spring and early summer. Deer rarely bother these plants, even in the most woodland garden setting.
- Full Shade to Part Sun
- Wide Range of Hardiness
- Prefers Rich, Moist Well-Drained Slightly Acidic Soil
- Clean Mounds In
- Easy Care Deciduous Fern
The Lady Fern is the classic shade garden plant! Cooling and calming, the romantic Lady Fern is the perfect addition to add delicate grace to your garden! Super hardy and easy to grow, you can't go wrong with these lovelies. You'll be glad you ordered your Lady Fern from Nature Hills today!
