Home » Finding Your Perfect Plants » Ferns » Fern (Japanese Painted/Lady)

Lady Fern {Bare Root Plants, min 25}
5 customer reviews
Athyrium filix-femina (AKA Athyrium angustum, Polypodium filix-femina, Asplenium filix-femina, Aspidium filix-femina, Nephrodium filix-femina, Northern/Alpine/Longleaf Lady Fern, Female Fern)
Pronunciation: uh-THIR-ee-um FIL-iks fem-IN-ee
Product: 49407
Shipping description: This product can be shipped to all 48 continental states

FREE SHIPPING!
On Sale!: $3.97
Discount: 43%
In stock.
Shop With Confidence
Read reviews of us: Google - - Dave's Garden.
Secure online billing.
We assure your privacy.
Content note — AI-assisted: Some images, descriptions, and specs on this page may have been generated with AI and might not be perfect. If you’re new to this plant, please check verified photos [here] and feel free to contact us with questions.
Also available as:
See photographs comparing average sizes of some bare roots and potted plants
The jewel of ferns, Athyrium filix-femina, commonly known as the Lady Fern, is a perfect peridot pop of clumping color with her fan of feathery foliage. A medium-sized deciduous fern (about 25 to 30" long and 6 to 9" wide), with stems shifting from chartreuse to red and sunny spring-green leaves arising from a central point, Lady Fern is sought after for her decorative appearance.

Native to most areas of the temperate Northern Hemisphere, Lady Fern enjoys a neutral to slightly acid, well-drained woodland setting with good shade and a damp environment. However, if given enough moisture, she will even tolerate sun.

Lady Ferns will spread to form wonderfully dense clumps making her a brilliant blaze of bright green as a groundcover. She is interesting in that as she grows farther out her center dies away, leaving a ring of lovely, lacey green.

Lady Ferns reproduce by thick, scaly rhizomes and spores called sori that grow on the underside of the leaf. Ultimately, when you crave invigorating, illuminating green color and dense coverage coupled with a medium height, you'll want to consider the Lady Fern; she stands bold and beautiful in a skirt of green that lights up any shade garden.

Interesting Facts
Beware, the fronds and the rhizomes of the Lady Fern are poisonous when raw, but edible after cooking.

Athyrium filix-femina has achieved the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
See other plants that go well with this plant.
General information about Ferns:
When gardeners and landscape designers are looking for a dramatic, vibrant spray of color and foliage, they will often consider ferns for their project. In addition to sweeping texture and lush greenery, ferns work wonderfully as independent or companion perennials.

Perfect in mass plantings where they create the feeling of a field of grass swaying gently in soft breezes, ferns are also delightful as borders where they stand like shapely chartreuse soldiers at the edges of garden beds. Then again, when used as accents, in single plantings, or clusters amidst a rock garden, you have a moving work of willowy art.

But what to choose? You’ll be pleased to know that after more than 40 years of experimenting with various ferns, we have compiled a selection of the easiest to grow and hardiest ferns. Essentially, we’ve narrowed the list down for you, so you can select from our varieties with confidence. A bonus with our ferns is that all, except Japanese Painted Fern and Japanese Shield Fern are native to the United States.

Our ferns generally thrive in part shade and full shade. Have a full sun location? Southern Shield Fern even tolerates full sun! You will love the hardiness of our ferns as all of them are tolerant of drought and most are rarely eaten by deer.

Selections like Christmas Fern are wonderful erosion control options. With some ferns being evergreen and some semi-evergreen, you are sure to find the option that works wonderfully for your garden. Be sure to check each plant's Description tab for details.

Special note when planting bare root ferns in hot weather: If you plant bare root ferns during hot weather it is common for the foliage to die off. Do not fret, as long as you keep them moist they will grow back foliage. Depending on the severity of the heat it might not be until after summer ends.

See all ferns
Specifications
Shipping
No unusual shipping concerns for this plant.
FREE SHIPPING - Classy Groundcovers offers free shipping, and your plants never spend more than three days in transit.

Precise delivery - another benefit from shopping with us is that you know hpw to control exactly when your order will be shipped.

Shipping information that applies to all plants:
- When We Ship
- You May Specify Your Shipping Date
- Lookup Shipping Date and Tracking Information
- Special Delivery Instructions
- Changing Your Shipping Date
- Accepting Delivery
- Unpacking Your Order
- Returns
Care
Take the time to cut the fall die back to the ground and apply a fresh layer of mulch. This will help to protect the fern tubers from popping out of the ground over winter freeze/thaw cycles as well as from squirrels or other critters digging them up for winter food.

Lady Fern is also easily divided every 3-4 years in spring.
Performs best in well-drained (but moist) soil with added organic compost or peat moss. Best not to allow soil to dry out.
Ferns have delicate foliage that often suffers during shipment and transplanting. Cut off any foliage that is broken, bent, brown or yellow - the plants will quickly recuperate with fresh growth. Bare root ferns are particularly prone to foliage loss, it is not uncommon to have to cut them off at ground level when transplanting. As long as the roots are firm they will recover, often showing new growth within weeks during warm months. If transplanting bare root ferns during warm weather they might not send up foliage until summer ends or the following spring (best to transplant bare root ferns when they are dormant: late fall to early spring).
General information that applies to all plants:
- Ground preparation, fertilization, pH
- Planting instructions
- Explanation and description of bare roots
- How to plant bare root plants
- If you cannot plant bare roots right away

Reviews
Share your thoughts with other customers
Create your own review
As advertised
03/31/2022 By Robert Gower (MO)
Product reviewed: Lady Fern {3 1/4 in. Pots min 25}

As advertised
Strongly recommend this company
05/28/2020 By Kate M (CT)
Product reviewed: Lady Fern {3 1/4 in. Pots min 25}

The lady ferns arrived quickly and were in great shape — their packaging suited them quite well and it did not disturb the healthy new growth evident at the fern crowns. All 25 went in the ground successfully. Now it's just a waiting game to be sure they... Read full review >
Gorgeous Lady Ferns
05/01/2020 By Katherine Keith (VA)
Product reviewed: Lady Fern {3 1/4 in. Pots min 25}

Plants arrived beautifully packaged and protected, and packaging was all biodegradable! The plants in their 3 1/2 inch pots were substantial and a great bargain compared to larger pots on other websites. I planted some yesterday before a rain, and they have... Read full review >
Healthy, good size
11/04/2015 By Doug McKinney
Product reviewed: Lady Fern {3 1/4 in. Pots min 25}

I enjoyed opening the package to see such healthy plants ready to go in the ground.
Delighted!
03/11/2015 By Melanie Kelley
Product reviewed: Lady Fern {3 1/4 in. Pots min 25}

Am very happy with the lady ferns and veronica I ordered from classy groundcovers. Will definitely order from them again.

Related Products


Lady Fern
Bare Root Plants,
min 10
On sale: $4.97
Discount: 29%
On Sale!
In stock.

Lady Fern
3 1/4 in. Pots min 25
$8.97 or less
Temporarily out of stock. Expected 09/21/2026.Email when available

Northern Lady Fern 'Lady In Red'
1-Gallon pot
$40.97 or less
In stock.

Crested Japanese Painted Fern 'Crested Surf'
1-Gallon pot
$53.47 or less
In stock.

Japanese Painted Fern
1-Gallon pot
$41.47 or less
Temporarily out of stock. Expected date unknown.Email when available

Japanese Painted Fern
3 1/4 in. Pots min 25
$8.37 or less
In stock.

Red Beauty Fern
tray of 50 cells
$297.00 ($5.94 per plant)
In stock.

Japanese Painted Fern 'Metallicum'
tray of 50 cells
$297.00 ($5.94 per plant)
Temporarily out of stock. Expected 06/08/2026.Email when available
​

WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE DISCOUNTS?

Your privacy is important to us, we will not send you any unnecessary email. If you wish to be advised of our sales (2-4 times per year), join our mail list.

no thanks