Japanese Painted Fern
Your Plants are Guaranteed
Your Plants are Guaranteed
Your plants are guaranteed to arrive happy & healthy with our 1 Year Limited Warranty. Your order will arrive healthy and stay healthy while they adapt to your climate. If not, just call us at (704) 443-8256.
Free Shipping on All Orders
Free Shipping on All Orders
Free shipping on all orders. Your plants will ship out the next business day... expertly packed so that your plants will arrive happy and healthy!
How We Ship Your Plants
Ordering live plants online should feel exciting, not stressful! We only ship healthy, well-rooted trees and plants!
Beware- not all plant nurseries are the same! Others can cut corners to save money:
- We never ship bareroot plants
- We never cut roots to fit into a small box
- We always ship plants with healthy, developed roots so they establish faster at your home
- We focus on plant health first- not minimizing shipping costs
A strong root system is the foundation for long-term success, and we believe your plant should arrive ready to thrive- not struggling to recover from shortcuts.
How we Select Your Plants
Once you place your order, our nursery team selects your plant and inspects it to make sure it meets our quality standards. Every plant we ship is chosen for:
- Strong health and vibrant foliage
- A well-developed root system
- Correct sizing based on your order
We take pride in sending plants that are ready to succeed when they arrive at your home. We try our best to exceed your expectations!
Once your plants are selected, we give them a drink of water before their journey. Then, we wrap each plant's roots up in a plastic bag, so that they do not dry out during shipping.
Carefully Packed & Protected
Live plants can’t be packed like ordinary boxes, so we do it differently.
Your plant is carefully secured inside a strong shipping box to protect it while traveling. Packaging may include:
- Support materials for stability
- Protection around the pot and roots
- Reinforced boxing for added protection
For larger trees, we use oversize boxes designed to safely accommodate the size and structure of your plant during shipping.
Sometimes, you will receive multiple plants inside a box. This is helpful because it can evenly distribute the weight throughout the box, which helps keeps the plants safe and secure throughout delivery.
Fast & Reliable with FedEx
Most Nationwide Plants orders ship with FedEx. Over the years, we’ve found FedEx to be the best carrier for live plants, especially larger items, because:
- They deliver quickest across the country
- They are the most gentle with live plants
- Faster transit means less plant stress
Once your order ships, we will email you tracking information so you can follow your delivery from our nursery to your doorstep.
We ship Monday through Friday. Most orders ship the next business day, unless you request a custom shipping date.
Multiple Nursery Locations
We ship from multiple locations across the country, including both the East Coast and West Coast. This allows us to:
- Deliver faster in more regions
- Reduce time in transit for your plants
- Ship large items more efficiently
How We Measure Your Trees
We measure tree height from the soil line, not including the pot.
That means when you order a 5-6 ft. tree, you’re getting a tree that is 5-6 ft. tall above the soil, not “including the container.” This gives you a good idea of what to expect when your trees arrive, and what they will look like when they are in the ground.
After Your Plants Arrive
It’s completely normal for a plant to look slightly different after shipping. Your plant has been traveling in a box, so you may notice:
- Minor leaf drop
- Soil that shifted slightly in the pot
- Temporary drooping from being in a darker environment
In most cases, your plant perks up quickly once it’s unboxed, watered (if needed), and placed in the proper environment.
Unboxing Your Plants
When your plants arrive, we recommend:
-
Open carefully (avoid cutting into foliage)
-
Remove all packing materials
-
Check soil moisture (If the soil feels dry, give it a thorough watering)
-
Let the plant recover (Give it a little fresh air after shipping)
If you ever have questions or concerns, we’re happy to help!
Our 30-Day Plant Promise
We stand behind every order we ship with our 30-Day Plant Promise.
If your plant dies within 30 days of delivery, we will replace it or refund it. We’ve found that if there are ever issues, they typically show up in the first 30 days- so this guarantee gives our customers real peace of mind.
If anything doesn’t look right, contact us and we’ll help you troubleshoot quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you ship bare-root plants?
No. We ship in soil with an established root system for the best success after delivery.
How fast will my order ship?
Most orders ship the next business day, unless you request a custom ship date.
Will my plant survive shipping?
Yes. Plants are resilient when packed correctly and shipped quickly. Our process is designed to protect your plant throughout transit.
What if my plant arrives droopy?
This is usually temporary from being in a dark box. Unbox promptly, check moisture, and allow time to adjust. If you’re concerned, reach out—we’re here to help.
Want Bigger Plants?
|
The Japanese Painted Fern thrives in Zones 4-8 
If you live in the green area above, we recommend the Japanese Painted Fern. |
||
| Your Growing Zone | ||
| Recommended Zones | 4-8 | |
| Mature Height | 1-2 ft. | |
| Mature Width | 1-2 ft. | |
| Cannot Ship To | AZ, OR | |
| Sunlight | Shade | |
| Botanical Name | Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum' | |
|
The Japanese Painted Fern thrives in Zones 4-8
If you live in the green area above, we recommend the Japanese Painted Fern. |
|
| Your Growing Zone | |
| Recommended Zones | 4-8 |
| Mature Height | 1-2 ft. |
| Mature Width | 1-2 ft. |
| Cannot Ship To | AZ, OR |
| Sunlight | Shade |
| Botanical Name | Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum' |
Description
Description
Japanese Painted Fern: Turn Your Shadiest Corner Into a Glowing Work of Art
That dim, difficult spot where nothing seems to grow? This is the plant that finally brings it to life. The Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum') unfurls soft, silvery fronds brushed with violet, pewter, and green, all set off by deep purple-red stems. It's one of the most colorful ferns you can grow, and it actually prefers the shade other plants hate. It stays a tidy size, comes back every year, and asks for almost nothing. Plant one, and a dull corner becomes a glowing, painterly retreat.
- Grown & delivered by experts to ensure your success. Your fern arrives strong, well-rooted, and ready to settle in at home.
- Loves the shade. It thrives in the dim corners where flowers and grasses struggle.
- Shimmering, colorful fronds. Silver, violet, and pewter tones light up any dark spot.
- Low-maintenance and drought-tolerant. Once established, it needs very little care or water.
- Deer- and rabbit-resistant. Hungry wildlife tends to leave it alone.
You'll finally have something beautiful to grow in the spots that always felt hopeless. Shady corners, the north side of the house, the base of a tree, these are the places this fern loves best, so a bare, gloomy patch becomes a soft, glowing highlight. It needs almost no care, comes back on its own every spring, and deer and rabbits leave it be. That means less frustration, less work, and a peaceful, painterly corner you'll actually want to look at. It's the easy way to turn your yard's hardest spot into its prettiest.
Beauty Where Nothing Else Will Grow
Most colorful plants demand full sun, leaving your shady spots stuck with plain green or bare dirt. The Japanese Painted Fern flips that. Its silver-washed, violet-tinged fronds actually glow brightest in shade, bringing light and color to the darkest parts of your yard. So the corners you'd given up on become the ones that catch every eye. It's a splash of art exactly where you least expected it.
The Easiest Elegance You'll Ever Plant
Gardening should feel calming, not like a constant battle. Once settled in, this fern handles dry spells, needs no fussy trimming, and returns fuller each spring on its own. Deer and rabbits pass it by, and it slowly spreads into a lush, arching clump. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or planting your very first shade bed, it delivers year-after-year beauty with almost no effort.
Soft Texture and Movement All Season
The fronds arch and cascade in a gentle, feathery mound about 18 inches tall, swaying with the slightest breeze. That soft, layered texture adds a calm, woodland feeling to any bed. Pair it with hostas and shade flowers, or let it stand alone as a shimmering accent. Either way, it makes the whole space feel richer and more finished.
Fits Beautifully Into Any Shady Spot
Tuck it under a tree, line a shady path, brighten a woodland border, or grow it in a container on a covered porch. Its compact, well-behaved size means it never takes over, and it blends effortlessly with other shade lovers. Wherever you place it, it adds elegant color and texture without any fuss. One easy plant, endless ways to transform the shade.
Why Order From Nationwide Plants
- Shipped healthy and well-rooted, never bare-root. Your fern arrives in soil with a strong, established root system, so it settles in fast instead of struggling to recover.
- Backed by our guarantee. Every plant is covered by our 1-Year Limited Warranty and 30-Day Plant Promise, so if anything isn't right, we'll replace it or refund it.
- Free shipping and expert care. Our nursery team hand-selects, waters, and carefully packs your plant, then ships it free, so it reaches your door happy and ready to grow.
Don't Settle for a Dull, Empty Corner
Every season you wait is one more with a bare, shadowy patch that could be glowing with silver and violet instead. Your fern ships fast, arrives healthy, and comes backed by our guarantee. Soon the neighbors will be asking what that shimmering plant is in your shade garden, and it could be yours. Order your Japanese Painted Fern today, before you wish you had.