Photo of Osmunda claytoniana foliage, form by Circeus

Photo by Circeus

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Osmunda claytoniana

Also Known As

  • Osmunda claytonia
  • Interrupted Fern

Plant type

fern

size

  • H: 24"-48"
  • W: 24"

planting zones

  • 3a-8b

More Options

Osmunda claytoniana plant details

Osmunda claytoniana is a deciduous fern with green foliage. Grows well with mostly shade - shade and even moisture water. Does well in rich soil. A good option if you're seeking something humidity tolerant and verticillium wilt resistant.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Osmunda claytoniana

Plant type: fern
Plant family: osmundaceae
Foliage: deciduous green
Mature size: 24 IN wide, 24 IN - 48 IN - tall
Uses: showy, woodland garden

GROWING CONDITIONS for Osmunda claytoniana

USDA Zones: 3a - 8b
Sun exposure: mostly shade - shade
Watering frequency: even moisture
Resistant to: humidity and verticillium wilt
Soil needs: rich

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

A large, stately, beautiful fern with light green foliage characterized by broad pinnae (leaflets). Great for a shaded garden and moist to average soils. Deciduous.
Easy and stately, hardy and lovely, the 2-4' fronds of this majestic fern resemble Cinnamon fern but for their spores which appear in the middle of the frond, giving it an ?interrupted? look. PSh-Sh/M
A native of the eastern states and eastern Asia. Looks some what like Osmunda cinnamonea. But the fertile fronds are interrupted. A lovely deciduous fern.
Fruiting bodies are produced on the lower portion of the fronds in between the pinnae (leaf blades), giving this distinctive fern its name. In spring, the newly emerging silvery-white "fiddleheads" are striking in appearance. Interrupted Fern (Osmunda claytoniana) does best in moderately damp acid soils, but adapts well to almost any good garden soil in part to full shade. Hardy to Zones 3 - 7.
Similar to Cinnamon Fern but with broader fronds, the ephemeral fertile pinnae occur halfway up the frond and create an interruption when they fall off in mid summer, hence the name. The fronds emerge in a spreading vase form to 5' tall.
Deciduous, black fertile segmats, pinnate pinnatifid fronds Zone 2-9. 2'-4', Eastern US, part shade-shade, moist, well drained
A majestic fern that resembles the cinnamon fern but is distinct in that the fronds have spaces that are "interrupted" by spore bearing pinnae in the middle of the frond. Occurs in moist woods rather than swamps, or in open areas in the northern part of its range, in eastern North America and eastern Asia. 2-4 feet tall, erect and deciduous. Zones 2-8.

By: Hoot Owl Hollow Nursery

Gardening facts about Osmunda claytoniana plant

How to Grow Osmunda claytoniana

  • Sun Exposure

    • mostly shade - shade
  • Water Needs

    • even moisture
  • Soil Needs

    • rich
  • Special Situation

    • humidity tolerant
    • verticillium wilt resistant

Features

  • Foliage Color

    • green
  • Foliage Season

    • deciduous

See other plant types of Osmunda for your garden

aka Osmunda cinnamomea, Cinnamon Fern

Plant Type

Fern

Zones

4a-8b

Size

Height: 3'-4'

Width: 1'-3'

  • mostly sun - shade
  • even moisture
Photo of Osmundastrum cinnamomeum fiddleheads, foliage by amy_b
View Plant

aka Osmunda regalis var. regalis, European Royal Fern, Locust Fern, Old World Royal Fern, Royal Fern

Plant Type

Fern

Zones

2a-10b

Size

Height: 2'-6'

Width: 2'-3'

  • bright shade - shade
  • even moisture - drought tolerant
Photo of Osmunda regalis foliage by Karl Gercens III
View Plant

aka Osmunda regalis 'Purple Stem', Osmunda regalis purpurascens, Purple Stem Royal Fern, Purple Tinged Royal Fern, Royal Fern

Plant Type

Fern, Aquatic

Zones

4a-9b

Size

Height: 4'-6'

Width: 3'-5'

  • mostly sun - shade
  • even moisture - high
Photo of Osmunda regalis 'Purpurascens' foliage by Dancing Oaks Nursery
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aka Osmunda regalis 'Spectabilis', American Royal Fern

Plant Type

Fern

Zones

3a-9b

Size

Height: 2'-5'

Width: 2'-3'

  • mostly sun - shade
  • even moisture - regular
Photo of Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis foliage by Jim Kingdon
View Plant

aka Osmunda nipponica 'Makino', Asian Royal Fern

Plant Type

Fern

Zones

6a-9b

Size

Height: 18"-36"

Width: 36"

  • bright shade - shade
  • even moisture - regular
Photo of Osmunda japonica fiddleheads by Kropsoq
View Plant

More Options

+2 more Osmunda
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