Fern - Onoclea sensibilis

• Provides cover for amphibians, insects, and other small wildlife in moist habitats
  
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  Fertile fronds provide winter habitat for insects and structure in naturalized gardens
  

Spring: fiddleheads unfurl into large, lobed sterile fronds

Summer: lush green foliage; fertile bead-like fronds appear midseason

Fall: foliage turns yellow, then collapses with first frost

Winter: dormant; bead-like fertile fronds persist above ground, holding spores

– Rain gardens, pond edges, boggy areas, naturalized wetland plantings, shaded water features, woodland gardens with consistent moisture

Large, bright green, leathery fronds divided into broad, lobed pinnae

Fertile fronds are distinct: shorter, bead-like, and brown, persisting through winter

Deciduous; sensitive fronds wither quickly with frost, giving the plant its common name

None; ferns reproduce by spores, not flowers

• Plant in rich, loamy, consistently moist to wet soil; thrives in boggy areas, lowlands, and along streams or ponds
  
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  Amend soil with compost or leaf mold to improve moisture retention and fertility
  
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  Space plants 18–24 inches apart; spreads vigorously by creeping rhizomes, so give it room or contain it
  
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  Plant crown level with soil surface; water thoroughly after planting
  
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  Best planted in spring or fall for strong establishment
  

Cut back fronds in late fall after frost kills foliage

Remove old, tattered fronds in early spring before new fiddleheads emerge

Can be cut back midseason if foliage becomes ragged; new growth will fill in

High water needs; thrives in consistently moist to wet soil

Can tolerate shallow standing water in pond margins or rain gardens

Not drought tolerant; soil must not be allowed to dry out

Grows well in partial shade to full sun if soil is consistently moist

In shaded sites, foliage is lush and green; in sunnier spots, requires ample water to prevent scorching

Not typically harvested; valued as an ornamental and for naturalizing

Sterile fronds may be used ornamentally in floral work; fertile bead-like fronds sometimes collected for dried arrangements

Typically requires no supplemental fertilizer if grown in humus-rich soils

A spring application of compost or leaf mold supports vigorous growth

Avoid heavy synthetic fertilizers which can damage roots

Ferns reproduce by spores, not flowers; no pollination required

Spores are produced on separate fertile fronds that appear in summer and persist through winter

• Moisture-loving perennials such as Ligularia, Astilbe, Filipendula, and Rodgersia
  
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  Ferns like Osmunda regalis, Matteuccia struthiopteris, and Athyrium filix-femina
  
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  Shade-tolerant wildflowers like Caltha palustris (Marsh Marigold), Iris versicolor, and Lobelia cardinalis
  
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  Works well in rain gardens, wetland plantings, and naturalized boggy areas