Royal Fern
Perennial
- We no longer offer this product. Check out our other ferns!
- Broad leaflets give this fern a unique texture.
- Grows well alongside ponds, streams, and lakes.
- Reaches epic proportions - up to 6 feet tall!
- Zones 3-9, shade/part sun, 3' tall x 3' wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
Wait, why does this fern have flowers? Technically, they aren't flowers at all! Ferns reproduce using spores found on the underside of the leaves - appearing as red or bronze dots (or sori). However, the royal fern has a unique strategy. The spores appear on brown tassel-like structures that rise above the fronds and resemble flower spikes. That's why royal fern is also referred to as 'flowering fern'.
Royal ferns are native to the moist woodlands and streams of North America, making them an excellent choice for water and rain gardens. They are resistant to deer, rabbits, and disease and tolerant of clay and standing water. Give them plenty of space, water, and shade, and we're sure they'll thrive!
Details
Common name: Royal fern, blooming fern, bog onion, buckhorn brake, flowering fern, ditch fern, king fern, osmund royal, rusty fern, water fern
Zone: 3 – 9
Sun exposure: Shade (< 4 hours sun) to part-sun (4-6 hours sun)
Height x width: 2 - 3 'tall and wide
Foliage color: Green
Season of interest: Year-round
Bloom time: Non-flowering
Features: Wet soils, rare & unusual, rain gardens, rabbit resistant, native, heat resistant, deer resistant, container plants, cold tolerant, best for beginners
Uses: Accents, border, container, ground cover, massing, small spaces, specimen, underplanting, woodland
How to Grow
Light: Part-sun (4-6 hours sun) to shade (< 4 hours sun)
Water: Grows best in moist and wet soils, and it should not be allowed to dry out.
Spacing: 2-3 feet
Fertilizing: Apply fertilizer during the growing season if needed, though it generally is not required.
Winterizing: No specific care is needed. Cut back old fronds after new growth begins in spring.
Maintenance & pruning: Site in locations sheltered from strong winds to protect the fronds. Other than removing old growth in spring, no pruning is needed.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.