Actiniopteris australis Plants GrowTropicals
Actiniopteris australis — 5.5cm
Eyelash Fern

Actiniopteris australis

£3.99 £4.99 SAVE 20%
Pot size
5.5cm £3.99

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Complete the set up
Fern Premium Potting Mix
The perfect soil Fern Premium Potting Mix · 2.5L · £4.99
Description

Actiniopteris australis, the Eyelash Fern, produces tiny, stiff, fan-shaped fronds on wiry black stems that give it the appearance of a miniature palm tree rather than anything you would expect from the fern world. The fronds are deeply divided and radiate outward like the ribs of a hand-held fan, and the whole plant stays remarkably small and compact. It is slow growing and unusual enough to stop people mid-sentence when they spot it on a shelf.

Origins
Native to arid and semi-arid regions of Africa, India, and the Middle East, Actiniopteris australis grows on rocky, well-drained substrates in full sun to partial shade. It is one of the few ferns adapted to dry conditions.

Soil and Substrate
Our Fern Premium Potting Mix provides a peat-free base, but because this species prefers drier conditions than most ferns, we recommend adding extra perlite for sharper drainage. 

Live Arrival Guarantee

All plants are covered by our 7-day live arrival guarantee. We pack every order in protective, sustainable packaging designed to keep your plants safe in transit, and every plant is checked before it ships. On the rare occasion something is not right on arrival, we will make it good, provided the plant is still in its original nursery pot.

Find out more

Delivery & returns

Order by 1pm Monday to Friday for same day dispatch. Every plant travels in protective, plant-safe packaging with tracked delivery.

Changed your mind? See our Return Policy.

Best quality plants guaranteed
7 day live arrival guarantee
Delivered to your door with care
Earn 19 points with this plant · 5 points per £1 Join free

How to care for Eyelash Fern

Give me a bright spot and check my soil before watering.

In their words

What our customers say

Arrived just like the photos - maybe even fuller. Healthy, well-acclimated, and straight into my collection with no issues.

Emily P.

Flawless leaves, stunning variegation, and clearly cared for by experts. It’s already a talking point in my home office.

James R.

Hard to find rare plants that are pet-safe. Ours arrived in perfect condition and looks amazing without any worry.

Sophie L.
Get to know me

About Eyelash Fern

Actiniopteris australis needs a minimum temperature of 10°C.

Temperature

Keep above 10°C · Happy at normal room temperature

This plant grows best in warm temperatures between 18°C and 26°C. Keep it away from cold draughts and avoid temperatures below 15°C, as cooler conditions can stress the plant and affect healthy growth. Read moreShow less

This plant grows best in warm temperatures between 18°C and 26°C. Keep it away from cold draughts and avoid temperatures below 15°C, as cooler conditions can stress the plant and affect healthy growth.

Plant type

Fern →

Also known as

Actiniopteris australis

Genus

Actiniopteris
More on caring for houseplants What does bright indirect light mean? Should I mist my houseplants?
Good to know

Frequently Asked Questions

Can this plant grow in a terrarium?

Yes, an enclosed environment provides the consistent humidity and warmth they enjoy in the wild. Before choosing a plant, consider the size of your terrarium and how large the species will grow at maturity. Avoid fast-growing climbers or plants that need strong airflow, as these can quickly outgrow or struggle in a sealed setup. If you are unsure whether a specific plant suits your terrarium, feel free to get in touch and we will be happy to advise.

Does my plant come with a pot?
Your plant will arrive in its nursery grow pot — the plastic pot it's been growing in. We don't include a decorative pot as standard, and there's a good reason for that: it means you get to choose one that fits your space and style, rather than being stuck with something that doesn't suit your home.

It also means you're not paying extra for a pot you might not want. The nursery pot is perfectly fine to keep your plant in for a while, just pop it inside a decorative cover pot or cache pot and you're good to go. When you're ready to repot (usually after a growing season or when roots start poking out the bottom), you can move it into something more permanent with fresh soil.

If you're not sure what size cover pot to go for, check the pot selector tool listed above, you'll want a decorative pot that's a centimetre or two wider than that to give it a comfortable fit.
How big will my plant be when it arrives?
Every plant on our site includes the pot size (e.g. 12cm) and, where possible, an approximate height. That's the most reliable way to set your expectations, photos can sometimes make a plant look larger or smaller than it really is.

If you're thinking "that sounds quite small for the price," here's something worth knowing: younger, smaller plants almost always adapt better to your home than larger ones. They adjust faster to your light and humidity, put out new growth more quickly, and tend to establish stronger root systems long-term. A plant that grows into your space will usually outperform one that was already big when it arrived.

That said, every plant is an individual. The one you receive may vary slightly in height, shape, or fullness compared to the photo, that's the nature of living things, not a quality issue. We select healthy, well-established specimens, and if you ever feel your plant doesn't match what you were expecting, just get in touch and we'll take a look.
What makes your plants different from the supermarket or garden centre?
There's a big difference between a plant that's been sitting under on a retail shelf and one that's been looked after and cared for by people who specialise in exactly this.

Our plants are grown in house or sourced from specialist nurseries, many of them varieties you simply won't find at your local garden centre or supermarket. Before anything leaves us, it's checked over by our horticultural team to make sure it's healthy, well-rooted, and ready to thrive in your home. We're not shifting volume off a pallet, we're choosing plants we'd want to keep ourselves.

When you buy from a supermarket, you get a plant and a generic care label. When you buy from us, you get the knowledge that comes with it, detailed care guidance, a team you can actually contact if something isn't going right, and the confidence that what's arriving has been looked after properly from the moment it was grown to the moment it reaches your door.

We're a specialist nursery first, not a retailer that happens to sell plants. That's the difference, and you'll see it the moment you open the box.
What should I do when my plant arrives?
First things first, unbox it as soon as you can. Plants don't love being in dark boxes any more than you would, and the sooner yours is out and breathing, the better.

Remove all the packaging carefully, give the soil a check with your finger, and water lightly if it feels dry. Then find it a spot with appropriate light, but avoid putting it straight into harsh direct sun or next to a radiator. Think of it like arriving somewhere new after a long journey: it needs a moment to adjust.

It's completely normal for your plant to look a little tired or droopy after transit. This is called transit stress, and most plants bounce back within a week or two. You might see a yellow leaf or some drooping, don't panic, and resist the urge to overwater or start repotting straight away.

Our advice for the first couple of weeks: leave it in its nursery pot, water it only when the top layer of soil feels dry, and let it acclimatise to your home's light, temperature, and humidity. Once it's settled in and showing signs of new growth, you can think about repotting or moving it to its permanent spot.

Every plant we sell comes with a care guide on the product page so you'll know exactly what it needs going forward. And if anything doesn't look right, get in touch with our team, we're always happy to help.
Will my plant survive being shipped?
Yes! and we go to serious lengths to make sure of it. Every plant is hand-packed by our team with protective wrapping and secure, custom-designed boxes to keep it stable and safe in transit. We've shipped hundreds of thousands of plants across the UK and our packaging methods have been refined over years to handle the bumps and jolts of delivery.

During colder months, we monitor weather forecasts and offer heat packs where needed to protect against frost. In extreme conditions, we may hold your order for a day or two rather than risk sending it out, we'd rather you wait an extra day than receive a stressed plant.

That said, plants are living things, and the occasional transit wobble can happen. If your plant arrives damaged or isn't in the condition you'd expect, just get in touch within 48 hours with a photo, and we'll make it right, whether that's a replacement or a full refund. No fuss.

The short version: we treat every box like it's going to someone who really cares about what's inside, because it is.
Why Grow Tropicals

Plants delivered the way they deserve

Packaged with Care

Packaged with Care

Every order is hand-packed in eco-friendly, protective packaging - refined through thousands of deliveries to ensure your plant arrives healthy, hydrated, and looking its best.

Backed by our Live Arrival Guarantee.

Perfect for Gifting

Perfect for Gifting

From rare collector’s pieces to easy-care favourites, our plants arrive fully potted and ready to enjoy. Add a personalised note at checkout for a thoughtful finishing touch.

Delivered fresh, beautiful, and gift-ready.

Sustainability at Heart

Sustainability at Heart

All plants are ethically sourced from trusted growers, never wild-collected. Every order ships carbon-neutral in minimal-waste packaging.

Good for your home - and the planet.

Verified reviews

Rated by real customers

This delicate fern is consistently praised as "lovely," "healthy," and "beautiful" with unique fan-like leaves. Customers said the "tiny" starter plants arrived "well packaged" in "perfect condition." Ideal for terrariums, shoppers appreciate the "great price" and quality. However, one customer noted the plant "didn't survive transport" due to its delicate nature, especially in winter.

  • Beautiful fern leaves and they totally look like tiny fans!
  • The plant is so healthy and happy.
  • My plant arrived in perfect condition, packaged really well, with literally no leaf damage.
  • 5 stars: 36 (90%)
  • 4 stars: 1 (3%)
  • 3 stars: 3 (8%)
  • 2 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 1 star: 0 (0%)
D
Deborah L.
Fabulous

Beautiful plants. Great packaging. Fast delivery

Deborah L. review photo
K
Kirsten G.
A delicate delight

Very pretty but very delicate. This cute little fern had been wrapped really carefully for shipping and arrived in perfect condition thanks. Its had a good start in life. . . just hope I can keep the little diva alive n thriving. :sweat_smile:

Kirsten G. review photo
D
Diana B.
Delicate

This one unfortunately didn’t survive the transport, but it’s a sensitive one and winter. Otherwise beautiful plant and hope to save it eventually

Diana B. review photo
O
Olegs K.
Tiny little cutie

Lovely very cute plant although super tiny. Hope it will grow with time.

Olegs K. review photo
L
Lin A.
Lovely plants for our terrarium

Lovely plants for our terrarium . Arrived well packaged in excellent condition. Very happy with my purchase.

Lin A. review photo Lin A. review photo
D
Danielle

Absolutely adorable it arrived looking a bit sad but within 2 days it picked up and a week later has given me about 6 new fronds

A
Anonymous (United Kingdom)
5.5cm

Lovely healthy plant

W
Wieslaw M.
Lovely small-sized fern, great addition

Lovely small-sized fern, great addition to my plant collection

L
Lucifer m.
Actiniopteris australis

Such a cutie! It’s a baby but cannot wait to see what it can become. Beautiful fern leaves and they totally look like tiny fans! Great starter size and great price. easy to take care of and to grow with me.

L
Lorri B.
What a cutie this Eyelash

What a cutie this Eyelash fern is :herb:

Lovely unique detail so Eyelashy arrived well and a fab little plant! :herb:

H
Hollie T.
The plant is so healthy

The plant is so healthy and happy. It's the one you pick in a shop when you are looking for the best one. Although this plant is in much better condition and health than any of my local garden centres and a great size and it's so cute!

T
Terry S.
Fern

My package arrived well wrapped and protected, on one of the coldest days of the year and everything was perfect, no damage on any of the plants, including the rarer tropicals

J
Julie

Lovely little plant which was well packaged

J
Julie

Lovely little plant which was well packaged

G
Geraldine

2nd one of these i have bought. Lovely healthy plant.

G
Geraldine

2nd one of these i have bought. Lovely healthy plant.

B
Bettye R.
Darling little fern

This super plant came in perfect condition

P
Pl A.
So sweet

Very delicate little thing beautiful

T
Tell S.
Plants

As usual. Good quality plants.
Very well packed and very well priced.
Absolutely thrilled with my latest purchase

D
Dwayne V.
Very cute healthy little fern.

Very cute healthy little fern. Can't wait to see it grow. . .

P
Pawel

Tiny but beautiful!

P
Pawel

Tiny but beautiful!

E
Eileen H.
Healthy little plant

I bought 2 of these as the one I had earlier been given I managed to kill. However I learned by my mistakes and these are still healthy and thriving and such pretty little things.

N
Nigel S.
Great for my terrarium

Great for my terrarium

A
Amy A.
love rare plants

I have never seen this plant before so am enjoying watching it grow

J
Jeff L.
My purchase came securely wrapped

My purchase came securely wrapped and protected and well within time.
The plant makes a great addition to my fern and moss terrarium.
Grow Tropicals can be relied on to provide quality plants and products.

J
Jan B.
Impressed with my plant. The

Impressed with my plant. The size is exactly the same as shown in the photo. Great value for money.

A
Anna M.
Good job

Plant come very well protected and looks so pretty

Thank you for taking the time to leave us such a kind review! We hope to see you again soon :blush:

J
Jayne G.
What a lovely little plant!

What a lovely little plant! Arrived in excellent condition.

S
Sadie

My plant arrived in perfect condition, packaged really well, with literally no leaf damage, amazing service, I couldn't be happier!
Not the first time I have shopped here and certainly won't be the last

S
Sadie

My plant arrived in perfect condition, packaged really well, with literally no leaf damage, amazing service, I couldn't be happier!
Not the first time I have shopped here and certainly won't be the last

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Actiniopteris australis
£3.99 £4.99