Osmunda regalis
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- os-MUN-dah ree-GAY-liss
- Description
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Flowering fern is an herbaceous perennial fern with an arching habit. It is in the royal fern family (Osmundaceae) and is native to Europe, Africa and Asia. Broad fronds have large, well-separated pinnae (leaflets) which give this fern an airy appearance.
Place flowering fern where it will receive partial shade or dappled sunlight. It prefers moist, rich, humus-rich, acidic soils, but adapts to lesser conditions. In the wild, it grows on moist bluffs, ledges, along streams and sometimes in standing water. In climates with cool summers, it can tolerate close to full sun as long as it is given consistent moisture. It may reach 5 to 6 feet high and 2 to 3 feet wide. The fronds typically turn yellow to brown in autumn.
This fern’s spores are located in brown, tassel-like, clusters at the tips of the fronds, thus giving rise to the common name of flowering fern, though it does not truly flower. Fiber used in the potting of epiphytic orchids comes from the fibrous roots of these ferns.
Ferns provide excellent shelter for small animals and birds and are seldom damaged by deer. Use the flowering fern as an accent or in a mass planting in naturalized, woodland, riparian or near septic areas. It is also at home in native, rain or water gardens.
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcovers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- 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:
- Osmunda
- Species:
- regalis
- Family:
- Osmundaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe, Asia and northern Africa.
- Wildlife Value:
- It provides excellent ground cover for animals and birds.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- This plant is seldom damaged by deer.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 5 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Fern
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
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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)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Frequent Standing Water
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 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. 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:
- Green
- Pink
- Leaf Feel:
- Soft
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Fronds
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Other/more complex
- Leaf Shape:
- Rhomboidal
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- The Royal Fern has a binnate blade. The pinnae resemble locust tree leaves with only a few scattered hairs. The fronds are pale pink as they emerge in spring. The pinna not opposite and widely spaced. The pinnule is narrow oblong with blunt or rounded tip. The stipe is rounded with a slightly grooved face. A congested cluster of bead-like sori on fertile pinnae at the tip of fronds.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Near Septic
- Riparian
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Rain Garden
- Shade Garden
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Mass Planting
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Wet Soil
