Description

Common Name: sensitive fern

Type: Fern

Family: Onocleaceae

Native Range: Eastern North America, eastern Asia

Zone: 4 to 8

Height: 3.00 to 4.00 feet

Spread: 3.00 to 4.00 feet

Bloom Time: Non-flowering

Bloom Description: Non-flowering

Sun: Part shade to full shade

Water: Medium to wet

Maintenance: Medium

Suggested Use: Naturalize, Rain Garden

Tolerate: Rabbit, Heavy Shade, Clay Soil

Garden locations

Culture

Best grown in organically rich, medium moisture, well-drained soil in part shade to full shade. Needs consistent moisture. Although native to swampy and marshy areas, it grows quite well in average garden soil as long as soil is not allowed to dry out. Usually grows taller in wet soils which it tolerates well. Spreads by both creeping rhizomes and spores, and can be somewhat aggressive in optimum growing conditions.

Noteworthy Characteristics

Sensitive fern is a large, somewhat coarse, Missouri native, deciduous fern which occurs statewide in wet woods and thickets and in moist soils along streams and springs. Grows up to 4′ tall. Features long-stalked, deeply pinnatifid, bright green, vegetative (sterile) fronds (2-4′ long) with leathery, triangular leaflets (pinnae) which have distinctively netted veins. Shorter, erect, woody-like fertile fronds (to 12″ tall), whose ultimate divisions are bead-like segments, typically brown up in late summer and persist throughout the remaining season and winter. Commonly called sensitive fern because the green vegetative fronds are sensitive to and suffer almost immediate damage from the first fall frost. Also sensitive to drought.

Problems

No serious insect or disease problems. Foliage may depreciate as summer progresses in hot climates, particularly if soils are not kept moist.

Garden Uses

Best in wet woodland gardens and moist locations along streams and ponds. Also appropriate for shaded areas of a native plant garden or naturalized planting.