SafePlants

Osmunda regalis (Royal Fern)

Osmunda regalis, commonly known as royal fern, is a captivating deciduous fern appreciated for its size and elegant foliage. It's a popular choice for adding a touch of sophistication to shady garden beds and waterside plantings.

Considerations for Pets

• The plant has separate fertile and sterile fronds. The fertile fronds have rust-colored spores that might be of interest to pets.

Considerations for Children

• The leaflets are described as distinctively oval shaped.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Osmunda regalis
• Common Names: Royal fern, Old World Royal fern, Flowering fern, Regal fern, Ditch fern, Locust fern, Snake fern
• Family: Osmundaceae (Royal Fern Family)
• This species belongs to a genus of only ten species of deciduous, clump-forming ferns.

Distribution and Habitat

• Native to Europe, Africa, and Asia.
• Also found in non-tropical North America.
• Grows in woodland bogs, on the banks of streams, in wet meadows, along lakeshores, and in swampy woods and marshes.
• Especially frequent in the west. It has declined considerably in the east.
• Suitable for waterside/wet tolerant locations with acidic soil.

Morphological Characteristics

• Deciduous fern, meaning it loses its leaves seasonally.
• Can grow to 2 meters (6 feet) in height and 1 meter (3 feet 3 inches) in spread. Some reports indicate it can reach even greater heights (up to 10 feet) in ideal conditions.
• Forms a distinct clump of tall, arching fronds.
• Fronds are twice pinnate (twice cut) and can reach 300cm.
• Leaves are bright green and divided.
• Has separate fertile and sterile fronds. The leaflets are distinctively oval shaped.
• The spore-producing inflorescence (fertile fronds) at the top of the plant resembles groups of flowers and appears rust-colored.
• Some varieties have purple stems and stipes, with distinctive purple croziers in spring.
• Has leafy looking fronds that are broad but airy and graceful.
• Terrestrial fern with short, woody trunk (&lt1.5 m tall, can grow &lt1+ m).

Ecological Role

• One of the very few weeds of bogs and competes with native species.

Quirky Facts

• The spore-producing parts of the plant can resemble the flowering spikes of a fruiting Dock plant.
• Up close, the Royal Fern can resemble a member of the pea family or a small locust tree due to the shape of its leaves.
• The plant has stayed mostly unchanged for 180 million years.

Cultivation

• Prefers partial shade.
• Requires moist, fertile, humus-rich, preferably acidic soil.
• Fully hardy.
• Quite tolerant of most situations but won't grow as tall in less ideal conditions.
• Very tolerant of sun if grown in consistently moist soil.