Create Your Garden

Onoclea sensibilis (Sensitive Fern)

Sensitive Fern, Bead Fern, Sympathy Fern, Japanese Ostrich Fern, Ostrich Fern

Onoclea sensibilis, Sensitive Fern, Bead Fern, Sympathy Fern, Japanese Ostrich Fern, Ostrich Fern, Shade plants, shade perennial, plants for shade, plants for wet soil
Onoclea sensibilis, Sensitive Fern, Bead Fern, Sympathy Fern, Japanese Ostrich Fern, Ostrich Fern, Shade plants, shade perennial, plants for shade, plants for wet soil

A unique addition to a moist woodland garden, Onoclea sensibilis (Sensitive Fern) is a deciduous, rhizomatous fern boasting broad, deeply pinnatifid, pale sea-green, sterile fronds, 2-4 ft. long (60-120 cm), adorned with leathery, triangular leaflets and netted veins. Shorter and narrow, the fertile fronds, 12 in. (30 cm), appear in mid to late summer, with bead like sori (spores) arranged toward the top of the fronds. The fertile fronds turn brown in late summer and persist throughout winter, releasing their spores to the wind the following spring before new leaves emerge. The common name comes from the observation by early American settlers that Onoclea sensibilis was very sensitive to frost, the fronds dying quickly when first touched by it. Easy to grow in most cool, moist, shaded sites, Sensitive Fern is a great asset for bog gardens, pondside plantings and water gardens. Cut fronds are great for dried flower arrangements.

  • Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society for its outstanding qualities
  • Grows up to 3-4 ft. tall and wide (90-120 cm). Spreads by both creeping rhizomes and spores and may become invasive in small gardens.
  • Performs best in part shade to full shade in organically rich, consistently moist, neutral to acidic soils.
  • This plant is a great choice for shady beds and borders, underplanting of roses and shrubs, cottage gardens, woodland gardens or along streams, ponds or bog gardens.
  • No serious pest or disease issues. Rabbit resistant.
  • Dead or damaged fronds may be removed as necessary.
  • Propagate by sowing spores as soon as ripe or by division in early spring.
  • Native to eastern North America, Asia.

Requirements

Hardiness 4 - 9
Heat Zones 1 - 9
Plant Type Ferns
Plant Family Onocleaceae
Exposure Partial Sun, Shade
Season of Interest Spring (Mid, Late)
Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Fall
Height 3' - 4'
(90cm - 120cm)
Spread 3' - 4'
(90cm - 120cm)
Spacing 48" (120cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average, High
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Poorly Drained
Characteristics Dried Arrangements, Plant of Merit, Showy
Native Plants Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Midwest, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northeast, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Southeast, Southwest, Tennessee, Texas, United States, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin
Tolerance Full Shade, Rabbit, Clay Soil, Wet Soil
Attracts Birds
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Ponds And Streams, Rain Gardens, Underplanting Roses And Shrubs
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow, Traditional Garden
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Learn Now

Recommended Companion Plants

Osmunda Cinnamomea,Cinnamon Fern, Shade plants, shade perennial, plants for shade, plants for wet soils
Caltha palustris, Marsh Marigold, Kingcup, Boots,Meadow-Bright, Meadow Buttercup, Meadow Cowslip, Soldier's Buttons, Water Boots,Water Buttercup, Water Cowslip, Water Dragon, Yellow Flowers
Eupatorium Maculatum, Spotted Joe-Pye Weed, Eupatorium Purpureum subsp. maculatum 'Atropurpureum', Eupatorium Atropurpureum, Eupatorium Fistulosum 'Atropurpureum', Eupatorium Maculatum 'Atropurpureum', Eupatorium purpureum 'Atropurpureum'
Osmunda Regalis,Royal Fern, Blooming Fern, Bog Onion, Buckhorn Brake, Common Flowering Fern, Ditch Fern,  Kidney Fern, King Fern, Osmund Royal, Royal Osmund Fern, Rusty Fern, Water Fern, Shade plants, shade perennial, plants for shade, plants for wet soils
Geranium maculatum,Spotted Cranesbill, Wild Cranesbill, Chocolate Flower, North American Crowfoot, North American Wild Cranesbill, Rock Weed, Sailor's Knot, Shame-Face, Hardy Geraniums, Best geraniums, Best rock garden Geranium, pink geranium
Quercus rubra, Red Oak, American Red Oak, Northern Red Oak, Quercus borealis, Tree with fall color, Fall color, Attractive bark Tree
Lilium Superbum, Swamp Lily, American Turk's Cap Lily, Common Turk's Cap Lilies, Summer flowering Bulb, early flowering lilies, orange lilies, part shade lilies, part shade flowering bulbs
Prunus virginiana, Chokecherry, American Chokecherry, Virginian Bird Cherry, Flowering Tree, White flowers, Red Berries
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Buy Plants

Requirements

Hardiness 4 - 9
Heat Zones 1 - 9
Plant Type Ferns
Plant Family Onocleaceae
Exposure Partial Sun, Shade
Season of Interest Spring (Mid, Late)
Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Fall
Height 3' - 4'
(90cm - 120cm)
Spread 3' - 4'
(90cm - 120cm)
Spacing 48" (120cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average, High
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Poorly Drained
Characteristics Dried Arrangements, Plant of Merit, Showy
Native Plants Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Midwest, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northeast, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Southeast, Southwest, Tennessee, Texas, United States, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin
Tolerance Full Shade, Rabbit, Clay Soil, Wet Soil
Attracts Birds
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Ponds And Streams, Rain Gardens, Underplanting Roses And Shrubs
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow, Traditional Garden
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Learn Now

Gardening Ideas

Plant Calculator

How many Onoclea sensibilis (Sensitive Fern) do I need for my garden?

Input your garden space dimensions

Your Shopping List

Plant Quantity
Onoclea sensibilis (Sensitive Fern) N/A Buy Plants

Please Login to Proceed

You Have Reached The Free Limit, Please Subscribe to Proceed

Subscribe to Gardenia

To create additional collections, you must be a paid member of Gardenia
  • Add as many plants as you wish
  • Create and save up to 25 garden collections
Become a Member

Plant Added Successfully

You have Reached Your Limit

To add more plants, you must be a paid member of our site Become a Member

Update Your Credit
Card Information

Cancel

Create a New Collection

Sign Up to Our Newsletter

    You have been subscribed successfully

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Find your Hardiness Zone

    Find your Heat Zone

    Find your Climate Zone