Sweet Fern Comptonia peregrina
- Phonetic Spelling
- komp-TOH-nee-uh per-uh-GREE-nuh
- Description
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This plant is a low maintenance shrub in the Myricaceae family. This native to eastern North America has aromatic foliage that resembles ferns, hence the common name of sweet fern. It is often found along roadsides and is capable of fixing its own nitrogen. It works well in rain gardens or be allowed to naturalize. Once established, it can spread rapidly to form colonies. This beautiful plant has a delicate look that will give that exotic, lush feel to your garden and enhance its beauty with its luxurious green leaves.
A plant that tolerates many conditions including drought, wet sites, and wind. It can even grow in sheltered seaside locations. Prefers sandy acidic loams, well-drained, in full sun to part. It does not transplant well so choose a location carefully. This would make a good choice for stabilizing slopes or embankments. This plant naturalizes, wet sites, deciduous, low maintenance and has fragrant leaves.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant insect or disease problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Comptonia
- Species:
- peregrina
- Family:
- Myricaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern Canada to North Central & Eastern U.S.A
- Wildlife Value:
- Wildlife enhancement
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Fragrance
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Nesting
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Nut
- Fruit Description:
- Greenish brown, burr-like nutlets.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Insignificant
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Catkin
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- This plant has brown male catkins and yellow-green female flowers. Both appear in April-May.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Pinnatifid
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Zig-zagged leaves are simple, narrow, lustrous, pinnatifid, deeply notched, olive to dark green (to 4" long). Sometimes they can be a mixture of red, orange, or yellow. They are very fragrant when crushed.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Naturalized Area
- Recreational Play Area
- Slope/Bank
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Children's Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Wet Soil
- Wind
