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Sensitive Fern

Onoclea

Onoclea sensibilis ( Sensitive Fern )
A fast growing to invasive but very beautiful, rhizome spreading Fern reaching up to 4.5 x 6++ feet, that is right at home on moist boggy soils. It is a native to wet woods, swamps and riverbanks in northern Asia and eastern North America from Saskatchewan to Newfoundland; south to Texas to far northern Florida. It is an excellent groundcover on wet sites near the water. It even grows in the bottoms of drainage ditches that flood after heavy rains. This plant has existed on earth for more than 60 million years including when the dinosaurs roamed the earth.
The bright green triangular, deciduous fronds have large, toothed pinnae. The fronds quickly turn brown in autumn after the first fall frost.
Hardy zones 2 to 8 in sun or shade as long as the soil is kept moist. It can even be planted in marshes.


* photo taken on May 8 2010 @ McCrillis Gardens, Bethesda, MD





* photo taken on July 13 2011 in Howard Co., MD

* photos taken on May 19 2013 in Columbia, MD
* photos taken on June 12 2013 in Columbia, MD