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 developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
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.