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 woodlands and mountain slopes of southern South America and parts of southern Africa, it produces a bold, shuttlecock-like rosette of stiff, leathery, deeply divided fronds in a rich dark green. Closely related to Blechnum chilense, it shares that same handsome, slightly primitive look but on a grander scale, slowly building a short, trunk-like base over many years to create an almost tree-fern presence without the tenderness.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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*Unfortunately we cannot accept returns of undamaged plants as these are perishable items and are not saleable upon return. If a plant is damaged, we will compensate for this as per our live arrival guarantee. -
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