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
Rare Plant Fairs

Rare Plant Fairs

 We shall be at many of the Rare Plant Fairs in 2026. The details of our unusual plants fair schedule can be found the shows tab at the top of the page, or click on the image to the left..

We are happy to bring orders to sales for collection saving you the shipping charge.

All of the fairs are within lovely gardens and they usually have good catering facilities. So all round a good day out.

Upcoming - Plant Fair

We shall be at the fabulous Yeo Valley Organic Garden which will be open at the same time as the plant sale. We will have a wide range of woodland perennials and ferns and can take orders to the sale for you to collect. 		Upcoming - Plant Fair
Upcoming - Plant Fair

Upcoming - Plant Fair

 We shall be at the PFR Horniman Museum & Gardens Spring Plants Fair, we will have a wide range of woodland perennials and ferns suitable for any shady situation. Particularly for shady London gardens.
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

Asplenium scolopendrium 'Cristatum'

Asplenium scolopendrium 'Cristatum'

£7.95 (2 or fewer items) £7.50 (3 or more items)

Very highly crested and evergreen.
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Gillenia trifoliata AGM

Gillenia trifoliata AGM

£8.95 (2 or fewer items) £8.50 (3 or more items)

A plant that has become increasingly popular as gardeners recognise its quiet beauty. White star flowers that have a fluttering butterfly quality about them, reddish stems and calyxs, followed by berries and coloured foliage in Autumn. A semi-shaded well drained spot will have this flowering most of the Summer. Use to the front of a shade border to fully appreciate its beauty. A rhizomatous perennial, that is gradually clump forming.
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Polystichum setiferum 'Herrenhausen'

Polystichum setiferum 'Herrenhausen'

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

A fine divisilobum form of the soft shield fern. A beautiful, elegant form of this easy very tolerant fern even of dry soils. Makes a very good subject for a container.
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Adiantum hispidulum

Adiantum hispidulum

£8.50

The rosy maidenhair. Originating from New Zealand, Australia and Asia to the Hawaiian Islands this delightful fern emerges in spring with vibrant rosy red new fronds which mature to dark green. The typical hand shaped fronds are held on dark wiry stems.
The deciduous foliage will form a light airy canopy when planted in a rich moist soil in dappled shade. This variety is only hardy to about -5c, so ideally should be planted in a nicely sheltered well drained spot. In colder areas it can be enjoy as an indoor (winter) outdoor (summer) pot plant. Very useful for flower arranging.
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Athyrium filix-femina 'Frizelliae' AGM

Athyrium filix-femina 'Frizelliae' AGM

£6.95 (2 or fewer items) £6.50 (3 or more items)

The Irish Tatting fern. Beautiful, with striking long narrow fronds resembling a string of beads. Deciduous.
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Lamium orvala

Lamium orvala

£7.95 (2 or fewer items) £7.50 (3 or more items)

Easy, non-running woodlander with large purplish/strawberry pink flowers. This makes a big plant and is very different from the running maculatum and similar types. Very beautiful and not inavsive, it enjoys cool well drained, though not dry, soils. Good Autumn colour too.
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