Osmunda regalis Purpurascens(Royal Fern)
A majestic garden fern, Osmunda regalis ‘Purpurascens’ (Royal Fern) is a tall, robust, deciduous fern of upright, vase shape habit, forming a large rosette of elegant, broadly divided fronds. Emerging reddish-purple in spring, their lovely foliage matures to bright green in summer before turning shades of gold and russet in fall, adding visual interest in the garden.
A majestic garden fern, Osmunda regalis 'Purpurascens' (Royal Fern) is a tall, robust, deciduous fern of upright, vase shape habit, forming a large rosette of elegant, broadly divided fronds. Emerging reddish-purple 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 matures to bright green in summer before turning shades of gold and russet in fall, adding visual interest in the garden. Low maintenance, pest and disease free, Royal Fern is a great asset for very wet sites!
- Clump-forming, it easily grows up to 2-4 ft. tall and wide (60-120 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 and borders, cottage gardens, woodlands, bog gardens, rain gardens or along streams, ponds or water gardens.
- Rabbit and 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 | 4 – 9 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones | 1 – 9 |
| Climate Zones | 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 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' – 4' (60cm – 120cm) |
| Spread | 2' – 4' (60cm – 120cm) |
| Spacing | 36″ – 48″ (90cm – 120cm) |
| 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 | 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 | Rabbit, Wet Soil |
| Garden Uses | Beds and Borders, Bog Gardens, Ponds and Streams, Rain Gardens |
| Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow, Traditional Garden |