Tag Archives: Ferns

Horticulture Report – Fire-wise & Native Plant

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Common name: Deer Fern
Botanical Name: Blechnum spicant
Plant type: Fern
Height: .75’ – 4’
Spread:  1’ – 2’
Exposure:  Part Shade to Full Shade
Soil Requirements:  Humusy, Acidic, Evenly Moist, Well-drained
Water Needs:  Medium
Attributes:  Winter Interest; Tolerates Heavy Shade; Two Different Types of Fronds; Deer Resistant
Note: Spreads somewhat slowly by short creeping rhizomes; May be divided in Spring; Leaf Spot & Rust May Occur; May Go Dormant in Winter; Cut back dead fronds in late winter or early spring before new growth emerges; Fertilize Frequently During Growing Season
Uses: Shade Garden; Shaded Border; Rock Garden; Containers
Firewise: YES
Native To:  Temperate Northern Hemisphere
Oregon Native: YES
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5 – 8

Osmunda cinnamomea (Cinnamon Fern)

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Plant Name:  Osmunda cinnamomea
Common name: Cinnamon Fern
Plant Type:  Perennial Herbaceous Fern
Plant Height: 2’ – 3’
Spread: 2’ – 3’
Bloom Time: May – June
Flower Color:  Cinnamon-Colored Sporangia; Cinnamon Fronds occur in groups; Fertile Fronds appear first as Silvery Fiddleheads which turn Upper Portion from Green to Chocolate Brown; Sterile Fronds bend outwards enclosing Cinnamon Fronds.
Exposure:  Sun, Part Sun, Part Shade to Full Shade
Soil Requirements: Tolerates Various Calcareous/Acidic Soils.
Water Needs: Medium High
Attributes: Attracts Birds looking for nesting material of Fiddleheads; Contrasting Fertile & Infertile Fronds Make Dramatic Accent.; Deer Resistant.
Note: Can grow in Full Sun if Constantly Standing in Water.
Uses: Bogs, Ponds, Water Gardens; Shaded Borders
Native to:  Eastern North America
Oregon Native:  NO
USDA Hardiness Zone: 4 – 10

Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member & Master Gardener

 Photo by David J. Stang – source: David Stang. First published at ZipcodeZoo.com, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=61095231

Horticulture Report: Interrupted Fern

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Plant Name:  Osmunda claytoniana
Common name: Interrupted Fern
Plant Type:  Fern
Plant Height: 2’ – 3’
spread: 2’ – 3’
Bloom Time: June
Flower Color:  Brown Spores
Exposure:  Part Shade to Full Shade
Soil Requirements: Moist, Rich, Humusy, Acid Soil
Water Needs: Medium to Wet
Attributes: Distinct Interruptions in Center of Fronds Caused by Fertile leaflets. The Spore Bearding Fronds are Different from the Sterile Fronds.
Uses: Shaded Border; Along Ponds & Streams
Native to:  Midwest to Eastern North America
Oregon Native:   NO
USDA Hardiness Zone:  3 – 8

Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member & Master Gardener

Photo by: Circeus Wiki Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Osmunda_claytoniana_JSG.jpg#file

Oregon Native Plant: Western Sword Fern

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Plant Name:  Polystichum munitum
Common name: Western Sword Fern
Plant Type:  Evergreen Fern
Plant Height: 1.5’ – 5.5’
Spread: 2’ – 3’
Bloom Time: N/A
Flower Color:  N/A
Exposure: Full Shade to Part Shade
Soil Requirements:  Tolerates variety of soils with adequate moisture.
Water Needs: Weekly deep watering; drought tolerant once established.
Attributes:  Fronds live 1.5 – 2.5 years; hosts butterflies & moths; Deer Resistant.
Note: Cut back dead fronds.
Uses: Ground Cover; Beds & Borders; Woodland Garden.
Native to: Western North America
Oregon Native: YES
USDA Hardiness Zone:  6 – 8

Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC member, Master Gardener

Photo Credit: brewbooks from near Seattle, USA / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Western_sword_fern_(Polystichum_munitum)-_Flickr-_brewbooks.jpg

Horticulture Report: Christmas Fern

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Plant Name:  Polystichum acrostichoides Common name: Christmas Fern Plant Type: Evergreen Fern Plant Height: 1’ – 2’ Spread: 1’ – 2’ Bloom Time: N/A Flower Color:  N/A Exposure:  Part Shade to Full Shade Soil Requirements:  Organically Rich, Well-Drained; does not tolerate clay soil. Water Needs: Dry to Medium Attributes:  Winter Interest; Deer Resistant; Young fiddleheads are silvery & scaled in spring. Note: Plant Rhizomes at angle to avoid crown rot. Uses: Borders; Ground Cover, but plant next to each other as does not spread; massing on slopes to control erosion. Native to: Eastern North America Oregon Native:  NO USDA Hardiness Zone:  3 – 9 Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC member & Master Gardener Photo credit: Wiki Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Christmas_Fern_(6928030406).jpg Author: Virginia State Parks staff / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)

Horticulture Report: Polystichum setiferum (Soft Shield Fern)

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Plant Name:  Polystichum setiferum
Common name: Soft Shield Fern
Plant Type:  Evergreen Fern
Plant Height: 2’ – 3’
Spread: 2’ – 3’
Bloom Time: N/A
Flower Color: N/A
Exposure: Part Shade to Full Shade
Soil Requirements:  Fertile, Humusy, Well-Draining Soil.
Water Needs: Dry to Medium
Attributes:  Winter Interest; Stalks & Mid Ribs are covered with Cinnamon Color; Brown Scales; Deer Resistant.
Note: Plant Rhizome at Angel to Prevent Crown Rot; Cut Back Spent Fronds in late February or March.
Uses: Shaded Borders; Rock Gardens; Woodland Gardens; Wild Gardens; Containers
Native to:  Southwestern & Central Europe
Oregon Native:   NO
USDA Hardiness Zone:  6 – 8

Report by: Viki Ashford, AGC Member & Master Gardener

Photo Credit: Monrovia https://www.monrovia.com/plant-catalog/plants/1244/soft-shield-fern/