Onoclea sensibilis
Common name: Sensitive Fern
Sensitive fern is a large, somewhat coarse deciduous fern that occurs in wet woods and thickets and in moist soils along streams and springs. Grows up to 4' tall, featuring long-stalked, bright green, fronds. Commonly called sensitive fern because the green vegetative fronds are very sensitive to and suffer almost immediate damage from the first fall frost. One of the few ferns that can tolerate full sun conditions if wet enough. Although native to marshy areas, it grows quite well in average garden soil as long as it is not allowed to dry out. Spreads by both creeping rhizomes and spores, so it can be quite assertive with the right growing conditions.
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Plant Details
Plant type
Ferns
Soil type
Mesic (Not too Wet Not too Dry), Moist Mesic
Light exposure
Eastern Exposure / Morning Sun, Full Sun, High Canopy Shade (Usually from oaks), Partial Sun / Part Shade, Shade
Bloom period
Spring
Urban environment
Yards that Flood
Habitat
Floodplain, Moist Woods, Prairie Grasslands, Savannas, Wetlands, Woodlands
Growth form
Colonizing / Spreading, Rhizomatous/stoloniferous
Growth rate
Slow
Flower color
N/A
Fall color
Yellow
Size
- Mature height
- 1 Feet
- Mature width
- 1 Feet
- Max height
- 1 Feet
- Max width
- 1 Feet
Additional information
Rain garden suited