Osmundastrum Cinnamon Fern

Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit

Osmunda Cinnamon Fern is a stunning native perennial, growing 36 to 48 inches tall and thriving in shady gardens. It showcases two types of fronds: fertile fronds, which emerge as soft, silvery fiddleheads that mature into cinnamon-colored spikes, and sterile fronds, which unfurl into arching, yellow-green foliage that turns golden in fall. Together, these fronds create a striking, vase-shaped display that adds year-round interest to your garden.

Botanically known as Osmunda cinnamomea, this robust fern is hardy in Zones 3-9. Its clumping growth habit spreads via creeping rhizomes, forming graceful colonies over time. Perfect for naturalizing under trees or near water features, it pairs wonderfully with woodland favorites like Virginia bluebells and trilliums. Its elegant, feathery texture enhances any shade garden, and it even works well as a container specimen.

Easy to grow and virtually carefree, cinnamon fern thrives in partial shade with rich, moist soil that drains well. While it prefers a slightly acidic pH, it adapts to average soils and tolerates sunny spots with consistent moisture. Resistant to deer and rabbits, it's a resilient choice for gardeners seeking low-maintenance beauty. Prune spent fronds during hot summers to keep plants tidy.

Plant Osmunda Cinnamon Fern roots in spring, spacing them 18 to 24 inches apart.

As a North American native, Osmunda Cinnamon Fern is both eco-friendly and visually stunning. Native plants like this enhance biodiversity and reduce the need for fertilizers or pesticides, creating a healthier garden environment for pollinators and wildlife while requiring minimal care from gardeners. However, wild Osmunda cinnamon fern populations are now endangered, but you can contribute to their preservation by adding them to your garden. Our nursery-grown plants are exclusively propagated commercially and never taken from their natural habitats.