Interrupted Fern
A very interesting plant for the shady garden, Osmunda claytoniana (Interrupted Fern) is a charming deciduous fern with showy, lance-shaped, divided, pale green sterile fronds surrounding erect, central fertile fronds. The fertile fronds are interrupted in the middle by brown leaflets (spore-bearing pinnae) which typically fall off in mid-summer, thus giving this distinctive fern its common name. The interrupted Fern is one of the first ferns to begin growth in spring. The oldest known fossil record of any living fern in the world is over 200 million years old!
Low maintenance, pest, and disease-free, Interrupted Fern is a great asset for very wet sites!
Ferns come in an amazing array of textures, colors, sizes, and shapes. Easy to grow and quite versatile, they add beauty to almost any spot in the garden. While most ferns enjoy part shade or dappled sunlight, there are many which will also perform well in sunny locations, provided they get enough water. Most ferns are slow-growing and may take several years to reach their mature size. Requiring minimal maintenance throughout the year, they offer gardeners plenty of attractive planting options!
| Hardiness |
3 - 8 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones |
1 - 9 |
| Plant Type | Ferns |
| Plant Family | Osmundaceae |
| Genus | Osmunda |
| Common names | Fern |
| Exposure | Partial Sun, Shade |
| Season of Interest |
Spring (Mid, Late) Summer (Early, Mid, Late) Fall |
| Height |
2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm) |
| Spread |
2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm) |
| Spacing | 36" (90cm) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Average, High |
| Soil Type | Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Poorly Drained |
| Characteristics | Showy |
| Native Plants | United States, New York, Maine, New Hampshire, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Delaware, Vermont, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, Missouri, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Georgia, Arkansas, Alabama, West Virginia, Virginia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Mississippi |
| Tolerance | Full Shade, Deer, Rabbit, Clay Soil, Wet Soil |
| Garden Uses | Beds And Borders, Bog Gardens, Ponds And Streams, Underplanting Roses And Shrubs |
| Garden Styles | Prairie and Meadow, Informal and Cottage, Traditional Garden, City and Courtyard |
| Hardiness |
3 - 8 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones |
1 - 9 |
| Plant Type | Ferns |
| Plant Family | Osmundaceae |
| Genus | Osmunda |
| Common names | Fern |
| Exposure | Partial Sun, Shade |
| Season of Interest |
Spring (Mid, Late) Summer (Early, Mid, Late) Fall |
| Height |
2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm) |
| Spread |
2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm) |
| Spacing | 36" (90cm) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Average, High |
| Soil Type | Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Poorly Drained |
| Characteristics | Showy |
| Native Plants | United States, New York, Maine, New Hampshire, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Delaware, Vermont, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, Missouri, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Georgia, Arkansas, Alabama, West Virginia, Virginia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Mississippi |
| Tolerance | Full Shade, Deer, Rabbit, Clay Soil, Wet Soil |
| Garden Uses | Beds And Borders, Bog Gardens, Ponds And Streams, Underplanting Roses And Shrubs |
| Garden Styles | Prairie and Meadow, Informal and Cottage, Traditional Garden, City and Courtyard |
How many Osmunda claytoniana (Interrupted Fern) do I need for my garden?
| Plant | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|
| Osmunda claytoniana (Interrupted Fern) | N/A | Buy Plants |
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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.
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