Yes. The autumn fern is fully hardy across the UK, comfortably tolerating temperatures down to around -15C. In milder gardens it holds much of its foliage through winter; in colder spots it may die back but reliably reshoots in spring.

It is a shade-lover, happiest in partial or full shade where its fronds keep their best colour. Avoid hot, dry, sun-baked positions, which scorch the foliage. Dappled light beneath trees or a north or east-facing border is ideal.

It forms a tidy clump roughly 50-60cm tall and a similar spread, reaching its full size in around two to five years. Its compact, well-behaved habit makes it easy to place in mixed borders.

It is semi-evergreen, keeping its glossy green fronds through mild winters and shedding them in harder ones. New growth emerges a striking coppery-pink each spring, so even after a tidy-up the display quickly returns.

Yes, it grows very well in a container of peat-free, loam-based compost kept reliably moist and out of direct sun. A pot lets you place its spring colour by a shady doorway or on a north-facing patio.

Dryopteris erythrosora has no reported toxicity to people, dogs or cats, making it a reassuring choice for family gardens and households with curious pets.

We always aim to make sure our customers love our products, but if you do need to return an order within 14 days of purchase (not including plants*), or any items are damaged, we’re happy to help. Just email us directly at hello@growtropicals.com, and we’ll take you through the process. 

Please note: we cannot be held liable for any packaging costs should the original packaging be discarded.

*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.

When placing your order, you can choose from three dispatch speeds to suit your needs: Economy (prepared and shipped within 4-5 days), Standard (3-5 days), or Express (dispatched the very next day). Please keep in mind that "dispatch" refers to the time it takes our team to prepare and pack your items before handing them over to the courier, not the total delivery time.

Shipping costs are based on your total order value and will be calculated at checkout, with free shipping automatically applied to all orders over £60. For a full breakdown of shipping prices please see our help center here.

Additionally, to protect the health and quality of our live plants, orders containing plants are exclusively shipped Monday through Thursday. This careful scheduling prevents your plants from being stuck in a dark shipping depot over the weekend, ensuring they arrive at your door vibrant and healthy.