Alphabetical Plant Listing

Osmunda regalis 'Purpurascens'(Royal Fern)

Royal Fern 'Purpurascens', Blooming Fern 'Purpurascens', Bog Onion 'Purpurascens', Buckhorn Brake 'Purpurascens', Common Flowering Fern 'Purpurascens', Ditch Fern 'Purpurascens', Kidney Fern 'Purpurascens', King Fern 'Purpurascens', Osmund Royal 'Purpurascens', Royal Osmund Fern 'Purpurascens', Rusty Fern 'Purpurascens', Water Fern 'Purpurascens'


A majestic garden fern, Osmunda regalis 'Purpurascens' (Royal Fern) is a tall, robust, deciduous fern of upright, vase shape habit, forming a large rosette of elegant, broadly divided fronds. Emerging reddish-purple in spring, they are crowned with rusty-brown fertile flower spikes at their tips, thus giving rise to the common name of 'Flowering Fern'. The lovely foliage matures to bright green in summer before turning shades of gold and russet in fall, adding visual interest in the garden. Low maintenance, pest and disease free, Royal Fern is a great asset for very wet sites!

  • Clump-forming, it easily grows up to 2-4 ft. tall and wide (60-120 cm).
  • A part to full shade lover, it is best grown in fertile, humus-rich, consistently moist, well-drained soils. Do not allow the soil to dry out. Can grow in full sun if given plenty of moisture. Will tolerate alkaline soils if fibrous compost is added.
  • This plant is a great choice for shady beds and borders, cottage gardens, woodlands, bog gardens, rain gardens or along streams, ponds or water gardens.
  • Rabbit and wet soil tolerant!
  • Dead or damaged fronds may be removed as necessary.
  • Propagate by sowing spores as soon as ripe or by division in early spring or fall.
  • Osmunda regalis species is native to Europe, Africa, Asia and North America, growing in woodland bogs and on the banks of streams.

Not sure which Osmunda - Ferns to pick?
Compare All Osmunda - Ferns

Buy Osmunda regalis 'Purpurascens'(Royal Fern)

Requirements

Hardiness 4 – 9
Heat Zones 1 – 9
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17
Plant Type Ferns
Plant Family Osmunda - Ferns
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun, Shade
Season of Interest Spring (Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Height 2' – 4' (60cm – 120cm)
Spread 2' – 4' (60cm – 120cm)
Spacing 36" – 48" (90cm – 120cm)
Water Needs Average, High
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Poorly Drained
Characteristics Showy
Native Plants United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Oklahoma, Texas
Tolerance Rabbit, Wet Soil
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Bog Gardens, Ponds and Streams, Rain Gardens
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow, Traditional Garden

Buy Plants


Guentermanaus, Shutterstock

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.


Requirements

Hardiness 4 – 9
Heat Zones 1 – 9
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17
Plant Type Ferns
Plant Family Osmunda - Ferns
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun, Shade
Season of Interest Spring (Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Height 2' – 4' (60cm – 120cm)
Spread 2' – 4' (60cm – 120cm)
Spacing 36" – 48" (90cm – 120cm)
Water Needs Average, High
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Poorly Drained
Characteristics Showy
Native Plants United States, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Oklahoma, Texas
Tolerance Rabbit, Wet Soil
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Bog Gardens, Ponds and Streams, Rain Gardens
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow, Traditional Garden

Plant Calculator

How many Osmunda regalis 'Purpurascens'(Royal Fern) do I need for my garden?

%
ft
ft

Your Shopping List

Plant Quantity
Osmunda regalis 'Purpurascens'(Royal Fern)

Find your Hardiness Zone

Find your Climate Zone

Find your Heat Zone

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!

Create a New Collection

Optional. For your reference.


Move Selected Plants to a Different Collection


Delete Collection

This field is required.

Rename Collection

This field is required.