Blechnum tabulare Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
Mountain blechnum

Blechnum tabulare

£37.99
Hardy in the UKShade-tolerantEvergreen
Pot size
23cm / 5L £37.99

FREE tracked delivery on orders over £60

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Description

Blechnum tabulare is a magnificent, architectural hard fern and one of the most striking choices for a shady corner of a hardy exotic garden. Native to the cool, damp mountain forests of southern and tropical Africa, where it grows along stream banks and the margins of afro-montane woodland from the Cape as far north as East Africa, it produces a bold, shuttlecock-like rosette of stiff, leathery, deeply divided fronds in a rich dark green. It grows much like a classic tree fern, slowly building a short, trunk-like base over many years to create an almost tree-fern presence without the tenderness, and is so substantial it is sometimes mistaken for a cycad.

Why grow it

Among evergreen ferns, few offer this much drama. The fronds are tough and glossy, holding their colour right through the seasons to give year-round structure when the rest of the border has died back. Fresh growth often unfurls with a warm bronze flush before hardening to deep green, and mature plants develop a sculptural, layered rosette that anchors a planting beautifully. It is the kind of hard fern that turns a damp, awkward spot into a lush, jungly feature.

  • Bold evergreen fronds for year-round interest
  • Slowly forms a short, characterful trunk with age
  • Thrives in difficult shade where little else flourishes

How and where to grow. Plant in partial or full shade, ideally in a sheltered position out of cold, drying winds. It loves a moist but well-drained, humus-rich soil on the acid to neutral side, so work in plenty of leaf mould or composted bark before planting and keep the roots cool and damp through summer. Reliably hardy across much of the UK to around -8 to -10C, it appreciates a deep winter mulch over the crown in colder or more exposed gardens. Expect it to reach roughly 1m tall and wide, with the trunk developing only over a decade or more, making it one of the more rewarding hardy ferns UK gardeners can grow as a long-term specimen. It settles equally well into a fernery, a woodland edge, a shady courtyard or a large container.

Every Blechnum tabulare we send is a strong, well-rooted plant, hand-selected and carefully packed to arrive in peak condition and ready to establish.

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 Mountain blechnum

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 Mountain blechnum

Blechnum tabulare 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

Pots & Containers Shade

Hardiness

TenderVery hardy

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

Borderline hardy (RHS H4); evergreen with bold, leathery fronds. Give a sheltered, moist, shaded spot and winter protection in colder areas. Read moreShow less

Borderline hardy (RHS H4); evergreen with bold, leathery fronds. Give a sheltered, moist, shaded spot and winter protection in colder areas.

Position

Partial shadeFull shadeNorth-facingEast-facingWest-facingSheltered
Partial to full shade, sheltered. Read moreShow less

Partial to full shade, sheltered.

Soil

ClayLoamSandMoist but well-drainedAcid pHNeutral pH
Moist, humus-rich, acidic soil. Read moreShow less

Moist, humus-rich, acidic soil.

Watering

Keep consistently moist; never let it dry out. Read moreShow less

Keep consistently moist; never let it dry out.

Mature size

Height60–90 cm
Spread60–90 cm

Reaches full size in 10-20 years

Growth habit

Clump-forming

Seasonal colour

Foliage

Evergreen

Pruning

Evergreen, so retain the fronds over winter and remove old or tatty fronds at the base in early spring as the new flush emerges.

Toxicity

No reported toxicity to people or pets.

Native range

S. & E. Africa

Family

Blechnaceae

Also known as

Blechnum tabulare

Genus

Blechnum
Good to know

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Blechnum tabulare hardy enough to survive a UK winter?

Yes, in most of the UK it is reliably hardy, tolerating temperatures down to around -8 to -10C. Give it a sheltered spot out of cold, drying winds and ensure the soil drains freely in winter; a deep mulch of leaf mould around the crown gives extra protection in colder or more exposed gardens.

Does this fern need sun or shade?

It is happiest in partial to full shade, much like its woodland-edge native habitat. Dappled light or a north- or east-facing position suits it best; avoid hot, dry full sun, which scorches the fronds.

How big does Blechnum tabulare get?

It forms a bold, shuttlecock-like rosette of leathery fronds, typically reaching around 1m tall and wide in a garden setting. Over many years it can slowly develop a short, trunk-like base, giving it an architectural, almost tree-fern-like presence.

Is it evergreen?

Yes, Blechnum tabulare is an evergreen hard fern, holding its dark green, leathery fronds right through winter. This makes it valuable for year-round structure in a shady border or fernery.

Can I grow it in a pot?

Yes, it grows well in a large container of humus-rich, free-draining ericaceous or loam-based compost kept reliably moist. Stand it in shade, never let it dry out, and in hard winters move the pot to a sheltered spot, as roots in containers are more exposed to frost.

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.

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Blechnum tabulare
£37.99