Arachniodes simplicior Variegata 24cm / 6L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
Arachniodes simplicior Variegata Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
East Indian Holly Fern

Arachniodes simplicior Variegata

£61.99 £68.99 SAVE 10%
Hardy in the UKShade-tolerantEvergreen
Pot size

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Description

Arachniodes simplicior Variegata is one of the most quietly striking ferns you can grow in shade. Better known as the variegated east indian holly fern, it earns its common name from glossy, leathery fronds with toothed, holly-like edges, but the real showstopper is the broad creamy-yellow band that runs down the centre of every leaflet, lighting up the darkest corners of the garden all year round.

Why grow it

Where many shade plants fade into a wash of green, this holly fern brings genuine, lasting colour without a single flower. The variegation is bold yet refined, the fronds are tough and weather-resistant, and the whole plant has a polished, almost architectural quality. It is evergreen to semi-evergreen, so it carries the display through the leaner months when little else is performing, a real asset for a hardy exotic border.

  • Distinctive central gold variegation on holly-shaped, glossy fronds
  • Evergreen structure and year-round interest in shade
  • Neat, clump-forming habit that never outstays its welcome
  • Reliably hardy across most of the UK

Arachniodes simplicior is a woodlander at heart, so give it dappled to deep shade and a cool, humus-rich soil that stays moist but never waterlogged. It is happy in most soils with a little added leaf mould or compost, and settles well into a north or east-facing aspect, a shaded border, or a container by a sheltered doorway. Over five to ten years it forms a handsome clump around 40-60cm tall and wide, spreading slowly on short rhizomes rather than running. Hardy to roughly -15C, it shrugs off a normal British winter; simply tidy away any tired fronds in early spring and let the fresh growth unfurl.

It pairs beautifully with hostas, hardy ferns, hellebores and woodland bulbs, and looks equally at home in a contemporary planting or a classic shade garden. Every variegated holly fern we send out is nursery-grown, well rooted and carefully selected, ready to establish quickly and reward you for years.

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.

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What to Expect

Seasonal by nature: what to expect

  • Grown outdoors, the way nature intended. Weather-tested and hardened in real UK conditions, so they thrive in your garden. A few marks on the older leaves are normal, the sign of a tough, real plant rather than a flaw.
  • It follows the seasons. Depending on when you order, your plant may arrive cut back, dormant or leafless. That's healthy: dormancy is the ideal time to plant.
  • Posted, not posed. Big leafy plants like bananas and gingers may be trimmed or gently folded to travel safely. It does the plant no harm, and it powers away again in spring.

Not sure what to expect from yours? Dormant, cut-back or weather-marked plants are all perfectly healthy and normal. Read what to expect through the seasons

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.

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How to care for East Indian Holly Fern

Give me sun with a little shade and I will stand a UK winter outdoors.

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.
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About East Indian Holly Fern

Arachniodes simplicior Variegata needs partial shade or full shade and moist but well-drained soil. It is hardy to around −10°C, standing an average UK winter outdoors.

Good for

Shade

Hardiness

TenderVery hardy

Hardy Exotic (H4): down to around −10°C. Hardy through an average UK winter.

Hardy to around −10°C (RHS H4). Evergreen in mild winters and semi-evergreen elsewhere — tidy any tired fronds in spring as the new growth unfurls. A sheltered position shields the foliage from cold, drying winds. Read moreShow less

Hardy to around −10°C (RHS H4). Evergreen in mild winters and semi-evergreen elsewhere — tidy any tired fronds in spring as the new growth unfurls. A sheltered position shields the foliage from cold, drying winds.

Position

Partial shadeFull shadeNorth-facingEast-facingSheltered
Partial to full shade. Ideal for north- and east-facing borders, woodland edges and shaded patio pots. Keep out of direct afternoon sun, which can scorch the variegated fronds. Read moreShow less

Partial to full shade. Ideal for north- and east-facing borders, woodland edges and shaded patio pots. Keep out of direct afternoon sun, which can scorch the variegated fronds.

Soil

ChalkClayLoamSandMoist but well-drainedAcid pHNeutral pH
Moist but free-draining, humus-rich soil. Work in leaf mould or composted bark and mulch each spring. Happy in neutral to slightly acidic ground. Read moreShow less

Moist but free-draining, humus-rich soil. Work in leaf mould or composted bark and mulch each spring. Happy in neutral to slightly acidic ground.

Watering

Keep evenly moist through the first growing season while the roots establish. Once settled it copes with short dry spells in shade — water during prolonged summer dry spells, and never leave it waterlogged over winter. Read moreShow less

Keep evenly moist through the first growing season while the roots establish. Once settled it copes with short dry spells in shade — water during prolonged summer dry spells, and never leave it waterlogged over winter.

Mature size

Height40–60 cm
Spread40–50 cm

Reaches full size in 5-10 years

Growth habit

Clump-forming

Seasonal colour

Foliage

Evergreen

Pruning

Evergreen, so retain the fronds through winter. Cut away any tired or damaged fronds at the base in early spring as new growth begins.

Toxicity

No reported toxicity to people or pets.

Native range

E. Asia

Family

Dryopteridaceae

Also known as

Arachniodes simplicior Variegata

Genus

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Arachniodes simplicior Variegata hardy enough for a UK winter?

Yes. This is a tough, reliably hardy fern that withstands temperatures down to around -15C (RHS hardiness H5), so it copes well with a typical UK winter. In very cold, exposed gardens a light mulch over the crown in midwinter gives extra reassurance.

Does it prefer sun or shade?

It is a true shade-lover, thriving in partial to full shade where its variegation glows in the gloom. Avoid hot, dry, full sun, which can scorch the fronds and dull the colouring.

Is it evergreen, and how big does it get?

Yes, it is evergreen to semi-evergreen, holding its striking fronds through winter in milder spots. It forms a tidy clump roughly 40-60cm tall and wide, spreading slowly by short rhizomes rather than running invasively.

Can I grow it in a pot?

Absolutely. Its compact, clump-forming habit makes it ideal for a shady container, a north-facing doorstep or a woodland-style display. Use a humus-rich, free-draining compost and keep it watered in dry spells, as pots dry out faster than open ground.

Is the variegated holly fern safe around pets and children?

Yes. Like most true ferns it has no reported toxicity to people, cats or dogs, making it a relaxed choice for family and pet-friendly gardens.

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.
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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.

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Arachniodes simplicior Variegata
£61.99 £68.99