SafePlants

Sweetfern (Comptonia peregrina)

Sweetfern, despite its common name, is not a fern but a deciduous shrub prized for its aromatic, fern-like leaves. The crushed leaves release a pleasant fragrance, making it a popular choice for those seeking fragrant native plants.

Common Names

• Sweetfern
• Sweet-fern
• Ferngale
• Meadow fern

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Comptonia peregrina (L.) J.M. Coult.
• Family: Myricaceae (Bayberry Family or Wax-myrtle family)
• Synonyms: Liquidambar peregrina (found in some sources)
• Etymology: Comptonia is named after Compton, Bishop of London (1632-1713). Peregrina comes from Latin, meaning "foreign."

Considerations for Pets

• While no known hazards are explicitly mentioned in the text, it's always prudent to prevent pets from ingesting any wild plants.

Distribution and Habitat

• Native to eastern Canada and the eastern United States.
• Commonly found in dry, sterile, sandy to rocky soils.
• Habitats include pinelands, pine barrens, well-drained dry sites, and the edges of marshes.
• Prefers full sun to light shade.
• Cold hardy to zone 2, but performs poorly in zones warmer than 6.
• Sometimes found on gravelly soils along road cuts.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• Deciduous shrub, typically growing to 1-1.5 meters (2-5 feet) tall, although some sources mention up to 3 feet.
• Has ascending to widely spreading, slender, reddish-brown branches.
• Leaves are simple, alternate, short-petioled, deeply lobed, and fern-like in appearance. They are also dotted with glands.
• Forms colonies.
• Rhizomatous shrub

Quirky Facts

• Sweetfern has been considered a "sweetheart" plant among native plant enthusiasts because of its ferny fragrant.
• Its common name is confusing, as it isn't a fern at all!

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Sweetfern serves as a larval host plant for some species.

Further Information

• Dave's Garden
• University of Maine
• Ontario Trees and Shrubs