Osmunda regalis (Royal Fern)
Noted for its unique form and texture, Osmunda regalis (Royal Fern or Flowering Fern) is a tall, robust, deciduous fern forming a large rosette of elegant, broadly divided, bright green fronds.
Noted for its unique form and texture, Osmunda regalis (Royal Fern or Flowering Fern) is a tall, robust, deciduous fern forming a large rosette of elegant, broadly divided, bright green fronds. Emerging pinkish in spring, they are crowned with rusty-brown fertile flower spikes at their tips, thus giving rise to the common name of 'Flowering Fern'. The lovely foliage turns attractive shades of red-brown in fall, adding visual interest in the garden. Low maintenance, pest and disease free, Royal Fern is a great asset for very wet sites!
- Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society for its outstanding qualities
- Clump-forming, it easily grows up to 6 ft. tall (180 cm) and 3 ft. wide (90 cm).
- A part to full shade lover, it is best grown in fertile, humus-rich, consistently moist, well-drained soils. Do not allow the soil to dry out. Can grow in full sun if given plenty of moisture. Will tolerate alkaline soils if fibrous compost is added.
- This plant is a great choice for shady beds, borders, underplanting of roses and shrubs, cottage gardens, woodlands , bog gardens, rain gardens, or along streams, ponds or water gardens.
- Rabbit, deer, clay & wet soil tolerant!
- Dead or damaged fronds may be removed as necessary.
- Propagate by sowing spores as soon as ripe or by division in early spring or fall.
- Osmunda regalis species is native to Europe, Africa, Asia and North America, growing in woodland bogs and on the banks of streams.
Requirements
Hardiness | 3 – 10 |
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Heat Zones | 1 – 9 |
Climate Zones | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17 |
Plant Type | Ferns |
Plant Family | Osmunda – Ferns |
Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun, Shade |
Season of Interest | Spring (Mid,Late)Summer (Early,Mid,Late)Fall |
Height | 2' – 6' (60cm – 180cm) |
Spread | 2' – 3' (60cm – 90cm) |
Spacing | 36″ (90cm) |
Water Needs | Average, High |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Clay, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Poorly Drained |
Characteristics | Plant of Merit, Showy |
Native Plants | United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Oklahoma, Texas |
Tolerance | Clay Soil, Deer, Rabbit, Wet Soil |
Garden Uses | Beds and Borders, Bog Gardens, Ponds and Streams, Rain Gardens, Underplanting Roses and Shrubs |
Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow, Traditional Garden |