Cinnamon Fern Osmundastrum cinnamomeum
Previously known as:
- Osmunda cinnamomea
- Phonetic Spelling
- os-mun-DAS-trum sin-uh-MOH-mee-um
- Description
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Cinnamon fern is a NC native fern in the Osmundaceae family, which occurs in the moist, boggy ground along streams and on shaded ledges and bluffs. It typically grows in clumps to 2-3' tall, but with constant moisture can reach 6' in height. Separate spore-bearing, stiff, fertile fronds appear in early spring, quickly turning brown. The familiar "fiddleheads" also emerge from the base of the plant and unfurl into large, erect, pinnately-compound, yellowish-green, sterile fronds (2-4' long) which remain attractive throughout the summer and turn yellow in autumn. The common name of this plant is in reference to the cinnamon-colored fibers found near the frond bases. Osmunda fiber used in the potting of orchids comes from the roots of these ferns.
It is easily grown in medium to wet soils in part shade to full shade. Prefers moist, rich, humusy, acidic soils, but adapts to lesser conditions. This plant has compact, horizontal rhizome, its growth is vigorous. It may go dormant with dry soil. It is slow to establish but long-lived.
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:
- Juniper Level Botanic Garden: Part Sun-Part Shade Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Osmundastrum
- Species:
- cinnamomeum
- Family:
- Osmundaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Mountain, Piedmont, Coastal Plains
- Wildlife Value:
- It provides excellent ground cover. It has scale-like hairs (the fuzz on stems) used by songbirds to line their nests. Birds like the Kentucky Warbler nest in clumps of these ferns.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Heavy shade, This plant is highly resistant to damage from deer.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Fern
- Native Plant
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Clumping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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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:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Soft
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Fronds
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Other/more complex
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves in circular clusters of arching fronds. Sterile fronds are lanceolate, pinnate-pinnatifid with dense rusty hairs beneath the base of each pinna. The pinna are narrow, lance-shaped, pointed, deeply cut and nearly opposite. Bright green, lacy, broad leaves appear in early spring. Cinnamon-colored spore cases appear on the stalks in the late spring and die by mid-summer.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Pond
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Rain Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Barrier
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Heavy Shade
- Wet Soil
