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Royal Fern
Osmunda regalis

Royal fern is a unique perennial fern 3' or more tall. Foliage is reddish at first, but becomes green over time. Royal fern is a beautiful specimen plant for landscape designs and rainwater gardens. It is also a good groundcover plant for buffers to wetlands, especially pools, swamps, and thickets. Slow rate of spread.

USDA symbol: OSRE

General Information

Plant TypeFern
Height3 to 4 feet
Light ExposurePart Sun, Shade
Soil MoistureMedium
Bloom ColorGreen
Royal Fern (Royal Fern<div><em class="small">Osmunda regalis</em></div>)
Photo credit: United States Department of Agriculture (Click to enlarge)

Tolerances

Flooding / Inundation ToleranceModerate
General Resilience5
Salt ToleranceLow

Pollinator Value: Low

Bloom MonthsMay to October

Project Planning

Project TypeRain Garden, Sandy or Engineered Soils
Coefficient of Conservatism8
Herbivore SensitivityLow
LifespanPerennial
Rate of SpreadSlow
Soil StabilizationShallow
Vegetative ReproductionClonal

Range

CountyAitkin, Anoka, Carlton, Chisago, Cook, Crow Wing, Goodhue, Hennepin, Isanti, Itasca, Kanabec, Koochiching, Lake, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Pine, Ramsey, Sherburne, St. Louis, Stearns, Todd, Washington
EcoregionDriftless Area, North Central Hardwood Forests, Northern Lakes and Forests, Northern Minnesota Wetlands, Western Cornbelt Plains
Approximate Eco ProvinceEastern Broadleaf Forest, Laurentian Mixed Forest, Prairie Parkland