Osmunda

Sunset

Zones vary by species.

Full, Partial

Ample

Osmundaceae
Deciduous, Ferns

Large deciduous ferns for damp (even wet) soils in regions with cold (or at least chilly) winters. Rather coarse looking but handsome nonetheless. They produce large masses of matted roots; root masses of Osmunda regalis provide the osmunda fiber used in potting mixes for orchids. Fronds are twice divided; they turn orange, brown, and yellow as they approach dormancy. Use at woodland edges or in cool, moist or wet areas. Both species described here are native to much of the Northern Hemisphere. Osmunda cinnamomea has separate sterile and fertile fronds; in Osmunda regalis, each frond has a fertile segment near the tip.

Osmunda cinnamomea

Grows 2 to 5 ft. tall and 2 ft. wide. This fern has two types of fronds. Sterile fronds are erect, up to 5 ft. tall, and divided in typical fern fashion. Fertile ones are shorter and consist of stalks topped by short, tightly clustered, brown spore-bearing bodies.

Osmunda regalis

Click to Enlarge

Osmunda regalis

To 6 ft. tall, 3 ft. wide; each frond segment is quite large. Fertile segments are smaller, clustered near frond tips; they look something like flower buds.