Ferns

Royal Fern The Royal Fern is also known as the Flowering Fern and is deciduous. Royal Ferns typically grows in clumps to 2-3' tall, but with constant moisture can reach 6' in height. The Royal Fern is an excellent selection for wet areas along ponds, streams, water gardens or in bogs. The Royal Fern, Osmunda regalis, is a tall, deciduous fern which usually occurs on moist bluffs and ledges and along streams (sometimes growing in the water). It also grows well in shaded borders, woodland gardens, wild gardens or native plant gardens. The broad fronds have large, well-separated pinnae (leaflets) which give this fern an almost pea-family appearance. Spores are located in brown, tassel-like, fertile clusters at the tips of the fronds, thus giving rise to the additional common name of flowering fern for this plant.

Christmas Fern Sori appear on the undersides of the pinnae only at the ends (last 1/3) of the fronds. The evergreen fronds provide good winter interest for the landscape. The Christmas Fern, Polystichum acrostichoides, occurs in both dry and moist wooded slopes, moist banks and ravines. These plants serve as hosts for butterfly larvae. This fern does not spread but the clumps increase in size over time.

Cinnamon Fern The Cinnamon Fern, Osmunda cinnamonea, occurs in moist, boggy ground along streams and on shaded ledges and grows in clumps to 2'-3' tall, but with constant moisture can reach 5' in height. When new fronds appear, they have a cinnamon color. Plant them in a loamy woodland soil in some shade to mimic the natural environment. This fern is used in container plantings, rock gardens, borders, specimen plants and as ground cover. Cinnamon ferns do not have flowers or blooms. This plant tolerates flooding and will grow in wet submerged soils.

Royal Fern The Royal Fern is also known as the Flowering Fern and is deciduous. The broad fronds have large, well-separated pinnae (leaflets) which give this fern an almost pea-family appearance. Royal Ferns typically grows in clumps to 2-3' tall, but with constant moisture can reach 6' in height. It also grows well in shaded borders, woodland gardens, wild gardens or native plant gardens. Spores are located in brown, tassel-like, fertile clusters at the tips of the fronds, thus giving rise to the additional common name of flowering fern for this plant.