Bead Fern Onoclea sensibilis
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- oh-no-KLEE-ah sen-si-BIL-iss
- Description
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Sensitive fern is a large, deciduous, herbaceous perennial fern in the spleenwort family (Aspleniaceae) that thrives in moist woodland soils. It is native to both eastern North America (including North Carolina) and eastern Asia. The species epithet is Latin for “sensitive,” which along with the common name, sensitive fern, refers to the inability of this fern to tolerate mild frost or drought.
Sensitive ferns prefer soils high in organic matter, clay or loamy soils that are consistently moist. These ferns thrive in shaded environments, protected from cold or drying winds. Propagation occurs both via creeping rhizomes and spores.
These ferns exhibit long pinnatifid, sterile fronds, which have characteristic netted veins. The fertile fronds are less than half of the length of the sterile fronds and they turn brown as the summer progresses. This fern’s leaf color in the fall is gold/yellow and the leaves can be dried for indoor arrangements.
Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: The foliage may deteriorate as summer progresses in hot climates, particularly if soils are not kept moist.
VIDEO Created by NC State Extension's Homegrown series featuring Mark Weathington, Director of JC Raulston Arboretum.
- Profile Video:
- 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:
- Onoclea
- Species:
- sensibilis
- Family:
- Onocleaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Root Cutting
- Wildlife Value:
- It provides excellent ground cover for animals.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Highly resistant to damage from deer.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Fern
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Creeping
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- 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:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- No fruits or seeds. This plants reproduces via spores.
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Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- No flowers.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Feel:
- Soft
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Good Dried
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Fronds
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Other/more complex
- Leaf Shape:
- Rhomboidal
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- The sensitive fern has broad, almost triangular fronds. The sterile fronds are deeply pinnatified to bipinnatified, and thin texture. The fronds of most pinnae are nearly opposite, the rachis is smooth, pale tan or yellow. The fronds turn yellow or russet in the fall. Fertile fronds emerge in late summer, are woody with beadlike segments, brown and persist into winter. Stipes are long (one half to two-thirds of frond), network veined. It is dimorphic (occurring in or representing two distinct forms).
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Garden for the Blind
- Native Garden
- Rain Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Heavy Shade
- Problems:
- Weedy
