Osmunda Cinnamon Fern

Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit

Osmunda Cinnamon Fern is a deciduous, non-flowering perennial offering 3 seasons of interest. Showy and long-lasting, the dramatic fern produces two sets of fronds, one fertile and one sterile. The fertile fronds emerge in early spring as furry, silvery fiddleheads that eventually become stiff, spore-bearing spikes that quickly turn chocolate brown, resembling cinnamon sticks. The sterile fronds emerge as fiddleheads from the base of the plant and unfurl into large, erect, pinnately compound, yellowish green fronds that turn yellow in autumn. The gracefully arching sterile fronds form a vase-shaped circle enclosing the "cinnamon" fronds.

Osmunda cinnamomea is commonly called cinnamon fern in reference to the Osmunda cinnamon-colored fibers that come from the roots and are used in potting orchids. An herbaceous plant, Osmunda Cinnamon Fern has an upright, clumping habit and spreads aggressively by creeping rhizomes, forming colonies of circular clumps over time. Typically grown as a groundcover, it is shown to best effect massed or grouped and is naturally well suited to moist woodlands and areas around ponds and streams. But it is perfect for adding fine, ferny texture underneath bigger shade plants and between deciduous trees. It also makes a nice specimen plant, suitable for containers.

Low maintenance and virtually pest and disease free, Osmunda Cinnamon Fern prefers full to dappled shade and organically rich, humusy, consistently moist, well-drained loams with a slightly acidic pH. But it tolerates a wide range of soils, including clay, sand, and loams. The plant is rabbit resistant and deer proof.

A native plant, Osmunda Cinnamon Fern is indigenous to North America. Native plants are not only beautiful but also environmentally friendly. Naturally adapted to the climate and soil conditions of the region, they thrive without fertilizers or extra watering, once established. They also act as natural pest controls, reducing the need for pesticides in the garden. Landscaping with native plants promotes biodiversity and provides shelter and quality food for wildlife and pollinators, bringing gardens to life.