Nursery grown

Brilliance Autumn Fern

Name: Brilliance Autumn Fern
Brand: Brilliance Autumn Fern

Dryopteris erythrosora 'Brilliance'

Brilliance Autumn Fern, shade garden evergreen, ready to plant

$16.99 4 Inch

Size

Quantity1

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Evergreen to semi-evergreen fronds stay ornamental year-round; bronze tones in cold weather add visual interest without leaf drop
Thrives in full shade where many plants struggle; no direct sun required, making it ideal for dense woodland plantings
Slow-growing, deer-resistant, and container-friendly; reaches mature clump size (18-24 in) in about 5-10 years with consistent moisture

Secure checkoutShips in its nursery containerGrowing guides included

About this plant

This is an evergreen to semi-evergreen fern with ornamental fronds that develop bronze tones in colder months. It thrives in part shade to full shade and creates a slowly spreading clump of 18-24 inches. Ideal for woodland gardens, shaded borders, mass plantings, and containers, it's also deer and rabbit resistant.

Your fern arrives in a nursery container sized to its growth stage. Upon arrival, place it in a shaded location and water thoroughly. Keep the soil consistently moist for the first growing season; this fern is not drought tolerant when young. Planting depth should match the container soil line. Growth slows in winter but resumes as days lengthen.

Brilliance Autumn Fern in the Shade

Coppery new fronds in spring turn glossy dark green, which suits a shaded accent.

Shady border

Plant 18 to 24 inches apart with hosta and heuchera for contrasting leaves.

Under trees

A slowly spreading clump 18 to 24 inches wide fits a woodland garden.

Shaded container

Use a moisture-retentive potting mix and keep the pot out of sun.

Wooded edge

Most deer and rabbits pass it by, which helps at the garden margin.

Not ideal for: Dry, sunny sites do not suit it, since it prefers even moisture and shade.

Brilliance Autumn Fern at a glance

Botanical name	Dryopteris erythrosora 'Brilliance'
Plant type	evergreen to semi-evergreen herbaceous perennial fern (evergreen in milder zones, semi-evergreen toward zone 5)
USDA zones	5-9
Mature height	18-24 in (some growers cite up to 2 ft in ideal shade conditions)
Mature width	18-24 in, forming a slowly spreading clump
Sun	part shade to full shade; tolerates more morning sun in cooler/northern climates if soil moisture stays consistent
Water	medium, consistent moisture; not drought tolerant, especially in first year
Bloom time	N/A — ferns do not flower, they reproduce by spores
Bloom color	N/A
Growth rate	slow to moderate; reaches mature clump size in about 5-10 years, roughly a few inches of new frond growth per year
Deer resistance	high — generally deer and rabbit resistant
Best planting time	spring or fall

Container sizes explained

#1 / 1 Gallon	A trade one gallon pot (about 6.5 inches). One to two seasons older than a quart, with an established root system.
#2 / 2 Gallon	A trade two gallon pot. Common for peonies and perennials that need root room; usually blooms the first or second year.
#3 / 3 Gallon	A trade three gallon pot (about 10 inches). A well-developed shrub or small tree, often 2 to 4 feet tall on arrival.
Sprinter pot / 8 inch pot	Deep, narrow pots used for grafted maples and long-rooted stock. Height is a better guide than volume for these.

Questions before you buy

Which size should I choose?

The 4 Inch is ideal for gardeners willing to wait for clump development; it's economical if you're planning a shaded border of multiple ferns. The 1 Gallon or larger offer more immediate visual impact and reach mature size faster. For containers or solo plantings, 3 Gallon is a strong middle ground.

When should I plant after it arrives?

Plant within a few days of arrival, placing it in a shaded spot and watering thoroughly. This fern prefers cool, moist soil, so early spring or fall planting works well.

How big does Brilliance Autumn Fern grow?

It reaches a mature clump size of 18-24 inches in both height and width. Growth is slow to moderate, typically reaching full size in about 5-10 years. It spreads gradually, forming a dense clump rather than a running groundcover.

How much sun does it need?

It prefers part shade to full shade. In cooler or northern climates, it tolerates more morning sun if soil moisture stays consistent. It thrives in full shade under mature trees or on north-facing foundations.

What hardiness zones is this fern suitable for?

Brilliance Autumn Fern is hardy in USDA zones 5-9. In zone 5 (the coldest range), it may be semi-evergreen, losing fronds in the harshest winters. In warmer zones, it remains evergreen.

What does it need during the first year?

Water consistently to keep soil moist; this fern is not drought tolerant when newly planted. Place it in full or part shade, and mulch around the base with 1-2 inches of organic matter to retain moisture. Expect slower growth in the first year as it establishes; full vigor returns as the clump fills in.