The Shade Plant Specialists

Long Acre Plants is essentially a mail order plantsman's nursery, situated in a hidden triangle of Somerset that slides into Dorset and Wiltshire. We specialise in unusual woodland plants and plants for shade, by mail order. This includes Erythronium, Epimedium, hardy ferns, hardy geraniums, hellebores (Helleborus), snowdrops, Viola odorata and Hepatica amongst many other shade loving plants.
Plants are the reason for this business and with a very few exceptions we grow what we like, for all the usual human reasons of association, perception of what is beautiful or just inexplicable love.
We try and grow in an environmentally aware way, including peat free compost, collecting and recycling rain water and using recycled paper. Plus all electricity used in the nursery and office is generated by wind or hydro, not through burning fossil fuels. We endeavour to make our packaging as environmentally friendly as possible. The packing cases we use are made from recycled PET which can be recycled again so creating a closed loop and having the best carbon footprint. 		The Shade Plant Specialists

Hardy Ferns

We offer an extensive and large range of wonderful hardy woodland or shady garden ferns, evergreen and deciduous. As a rule, ferns are best in shade, but some ferns will take almost full sun. Some are good in dry soils others in moist. Ferns fit into many different styles of garden, Japanese gardens, woodland gardens, cottage gardens, courtyards and containers, city gardens, tropical/ foliage style gardens even alpine gardens can look wonderful with a range of dwarf ferns, as well as pure ferns gardens or stumperies. Ferns fit into practically all garden situations and combine well with other plants. For example, deciduous ferns can be grown successfully in the same situation as a large Winter/Spring bulb displays, with aconites, Cyclamen, Galanthus, Narcissus and Erythronium etc. 		Hardy Ferns
Cyclamen

Cyclamen

 Cyclamen is a genus with a number of non-hardy species, but there are also some very hardy species of Cyclamen which thrive in a woodland or shady garden. Early Autumn flowering Cyclamen hederifolium will just about grow anywhere. Winter flowering Cyclamen coum is also is very tolerant of shade, even thriving under walnut trees, where growth in many other plants is greatly supressed.
Geranium

Geranium

 Hardy geraniums are amazingly good in shade, even dry shade. The geranium forms we offer are Summer flowering so often give colour to shady areas during the most difficult time. We find that hardy geraniums combine well with Spring bulbs; eg snowdrops through to Erythronium. Geraniums cover the gaps after the bulbs finish and give another season of colour. A few will even keep their leaves through a mildish Winter too!

Best Selling Plants

Dryopteris affinis 'Cristata The King' AGM

Dryopteris affinis 'Cristata The King' AGM

£7.00 (2 or fewer items) £6.50 (3 or more items)

A truly magnificent fern with splendid crests and arching fronds, said to be the 'King of the British Ferns'. In time, to 1.2m tall. Very effective in a pot against a north facing wall. Semi-evergreen.
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Athyrium niponicum 'Burgundy Lace'

Athyrium niponicum 'Burgundy Lace'

£10.00

A new burgundy flushed form from the USA. Lovely red flushed foliage all growing season. Deciduous protect from late spring frosts
Height - 30cm
Spread - 40cm
Plant at 40cm centres,
Aspect - Full shade.
Soil - most soils apart from dry or very wet.
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Dryopteris wallichiana AGM

Dryopteris wallichiana AGM

£7.00 (2 or fewer items) £6.50 (3 or more items)

A most magnificent fern from the Himalayas and Japan, although named after the Danish botanist Nathaniel Wallich. The young unfolding fronds are a golden green in the Spring contrasting well with the hairy black midrib and stems. Needs moist conditions though not boggy and avoid dry alkaline soils. Evergreen.
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Woodwardia unigemmata AGM

Woodwardia unigemmata AGM

£11.00

A hardy species of the chain fern, down to minus 8* C. Bright red new fronds, ageing to green. For moistish positions in shade. Fronds can be 1.5m long; quite one of the best large hardy ferns and one we are delighted to be able to offer.
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Athyrium niponicum 'Godzilla'

Athyrium niponicum 'Godzilla'

£10.00

A new cultivar, larger growing than other forms. Creates quite a stunning large pot. Best in a courtyard or north wall.
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Polystichum neolabatum

Polystichum neolabatum

£8.00 (2 or fewer items) £7.50 (3 or more items)

The Asian Saber fern is a super evergreen fern with glossy fronds with a strong upright habit. It is one of the most weather resistant ferns we grow shrugging off even snow with little effect. Upright in growth it is eye catching as a single specimen or interesting planted en masse. The Asian saber fern is very drought tolerant once established. Will form a large rosette with prominent reddish gold scales.
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