Royal Fern

bare-root plants

Osmunda regalis
Up to 6' tall and 9' wide at maturity. Sometimes called Flowering Fern because some of the fronds have brown spore cases on their tips that lend a decorative tassel-like appearance.

Attains giant proportions! Soft and wavy deciduous lance-shaped light green fronds can reach 3' long. One of the showiest garden ferns, which makes a great focal point at the waterside or in a woodland. Evolutionarily speaking, Osmunda is one of the oldest plant genera, native to North and South America and Asia. Some Royal Fern individuals are said to be 1000 years old. Ours are much younger.

Ferns make wonderful low-maintenance foliage plants that thrive in woodsy humus-rich soil and lend a serene aura to a shady garden or landscape. Mulch with 2" of leaves if necessary to keep crowns from drying out. All of our ferns are nursery propagated and not dug from the wild.

Prefers wet boggy areas and part shade. Plant 18" apart in consistently moist soil. Z2. (bare-root crowns)

ships in spring

7671 Royal Fern

Shipping

Items from our perennial plants warehouse ordered on or before March 7 will ship around March 31 through late April, starting with warmer areas and finishing in colder areas. Orders placed after March 7 will ship around late April through early-to-mid May, in the order in which they were received.

Additional Information

Herbaceous Perennial Plants

When you receive your order, open the bags and check the stock immediately. Roots and crowns should be firm and pliable. Surface mold is harmless and will not affect the plant’s future performance. Store plants in their packaging in a cool (35–40°) location until you are ready to plant. If it’s going to be awhile, you can pot up your perennials.

Do not plant bare-root perennial plant crowns directly outdoors before danger of frost has passed. Wet and/or cold conditions for an extended period may cause rotting.

For more info:
About planting bare-root perennials

Ferns

Flowerless spore-producing perennials represented by more than 10,000 species worldwide, ranging from 70' tropical tree ferns to teensy plants sprouting from cracks in alpine rock. In Maine we enjoy lush fern displays all summer on the roadsides and in the woods. More and more people are using ferns as foundation plantings and in all kinds of shaded spots.

Ferns make wonderful low-maintenance foliage plants that thrive in moist woodsy humus-rich soil and lend a serene aura to a shady garden or landscape. Mulch if necessary to keep crowns from drying out.