Flowering Ferns Osmunda
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- os-MUN-dah
- Description
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Osmunda ferns are herbaceous perennial, evergreen plants in the Royal-fern family (Osmundaceae). Osmunda ferns are native to temperate climates, including two species native to southeastern North America, O. claytoniana and O. spectabilis. Osmunda regalis is native to Europe and Asia.
Osmunda fern leaves (fronds) grow up from horizontal stems on or just under the ground. They have portions of the green fronds that bear sporangia (Osmunda claytoniana), or they have two separate frond types: 1) green fronds that photosynthesize and 2) brown or gold fertile (spore-producing) fronds. The sporangia (spore-capsules) are not assembled into sori.
The Osmunda ferns grow well in partial to deep shade and moist to wet, humus-rich soil. Osmunda ferns will adapt to a variety of conditions, however, if provided moisture. The desired pH is acidic, but they will also grow in neutral or slightly basic soil. These ferns grow well in wooded areas, and in both shade and native gardens.
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:
- Juniper Level Botanic Gardens: Front Shade Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Osmunda
- Family:
- Osmundaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Temperate and tropical regions worldwide.
- Distribution:
- Temperate and tropical regions worldwide
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Fern
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Broad
- Vase
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Fronds
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Pinnatifid
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Young fronds emerge in tight coils, expanding out into large, broad, compound leaflets. Sterile fronds are green and present year-round while the more feathery fertile fronds are gold to red-brown and emerge in fall.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- No stems; leaves rise directly out of the ground.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Heavy Shade
