CINNAMON FERN -

2-3 Feet Tall 24-30 Inches Wide--

Osmunda cinnamomea, commonly known as the Cinnamon Fern, is a stately and ancient-looking native plant that adds significant texture and height to the garden. It is easily identified by its unique fertile fronds, which emerge from the center of the clump in early spring. These specialized stalks are covered in thick, felt-like spores that transform from a bright green to a deep, cinnamon-brown color, standing tall like fuzzy wands amidst the surrounding green foliage. The sterile fronds are large, arching, and a soft medium-green, typically reaching heights of 2 to 3 feet in a symmetrical, vase-shaped habit.

Cinnamon Fern is a long-lived and exceptionally hardy choice for wet or boggy areas, as it naturally thrives in swamps and along stream banks. It performs best in full to partial shade and requires consistently moist, acidic, and organic-rich soil. While it is happy in the shade, it can handle a surprising amount of sun if the roots are kept continuously wet. In autumn, the foliage often turns a beautiful golden-yellow or bronze color before going dormant for the winter. It is a slow-spreading, clump-forming fern that stays exactly where it is planted, making it a dependable anchor for the back of a moist perennial border.

Osmunda cinnamomea

Part Sun Shade

green foliage

Zone: 3