General Culture:

Easily grown in medium to wet soils in part shade. Prefers moist, rich, humusy, acidic soils, but adapts to lesser conditions.

Noteworthy Characteristics:

Royal fern is a tall, deciduous fern which typically grows in clumps to 2-3' tall, but with consistent moisture in optimum growing conditions can reach 6' in height. Broad fronds have large, well-separated pinnae (leaflets) which give this fern an almost pea-family appearance. Fronds typically turn yellow to brown in autumn. Spores are located in brown, tassel-like, fertile clusters at the tips of the fronds, thus giving rise to the additional common name of flowering fern for this plant. Osmunda fiber used in the potting of orchids comes from the fibrous roots of these ferns. Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis is a Missouri native which usually occurs on moist bluffs and ledges and along streams (sometimes growing in shallow water), primarily in the southeastern Ozark region of the State. Osmunda regalis var. regalis is native to Europe and Asia and often grows taller with larger fronds than O. r. var. spectabilis.

Problems:

No serious insect or disease problems.

Uses:

Excellent selection for wet areas along ponds, streams, water gardens or in bogs. Also grows well in shaded borders, woodland gardens, wild gardens or native plant gardens.

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