Ferns

Christmas Fern Stocking shape of the pinnae also suggests Christmas. Crosiers (young fiddleheads) in spring are silvery and scaled. It typically grows in a fountain-like clump to 2' tall and features leathery, lance-shaped, evergreen (green at Christmas time as the common name suggests) fronds. These plants serve as hosts for butterfly larvae. Christmas ferns are asymmetrical with a fine texture and has a moderately dense crown. Sori appear on the undersides of the pinnae only at the ends (last 1/3) of the fronds. The evergreen fronds provide good winter interest for the landscape.

Christmas Fern The evergreen fronds provide good winter interest for the landscape. Crosiers (young fiddleheads) in spring are silvery and scaled. Sori appear on the undersides of the pinnae only at the ends (last 1/3) of the fronds. These plants serve as hosts for butterfly larvae. It typically grows in a fountain-like clump to 2' tall and features leathery, lance-shaped, evergreen (green at Christmas time as the common name suggests) fronds.

Cinnamon Fern When new fronds appear, they have a cinnamon color. This fern is used in container plantings, rock gardens, borders, specimen plants and as ground cover. Plant them in a loamy woodland soil in some shade to mimic the natural environment. The Cinnamon Fern, Osmunda cinnamonea, occurs in moist, boggy ground along streams and on shaded ledges and grows in clumps to 2'-3' tall, but with constant moisture can reach 5' in height. Osumunda fiber used in the potting of orchids comes from the roots of these ferns.

Royal Fern The Royal Fern, Osmunda regalis, is a tall, deciduous fern which usually occurs on moist bluffs and ledges and along streams (sometimes growing in the water). Royal Ferns typically grows in clumps to 2-3' tall, but with constant moisture can reach 6' in height. The broad fronds have large, well-separated pinnae (leaflets) which give this fern an almost pea-family appearance. Spores are located in brown, tassel-like, fertile clusters at the tips of the fronds, thus giving rise to the additional common name of flowering fern for this plant. The Royal Fern is an excellent selection for wet areas along ponds, streams, water gardens or in bogs. It also grows well in shaded borders, woodland gardens, wild gardens or native plant gardens.