Cinnamon fern
Osmundastrum cinnamomea
Cinnamon fern adds charm to any shade garden and requires little maintenance. In early spring, its fiddleheads emerge and transform into beautiful specimens like those above. The cinnamon-colored spore-bearing spikes last for several weeks before fading, while the arching fronds reach 2 to 3 feet and remain attractive until fall. Native to North and Central America, cinnamon fern will gradually spread over time, creating a lush, green backdrop that adds texture and depth to your garden beds and borders.
Best conditions for growing cinnamon fern
Grow cinnamon fern in part to full shade; plants also prefer rich, moist to wet soil. Naturally found growing along stream banks and in boggy sites, it works perfectly planted along the edges of ponds or around water features. For a striking effect, plant cinnamon fern in clusters or drifts, woodland gardens or as a backdrop for shady borders.
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How to grow cinnamon fern
While cinnamon fern can be grown from rhizomes, it’s far easier to start with nursery-bought plants. In early spring, once the danger of frost has passed, dig a hole the same depth as the plant’s pot and enrich the soil with 1 to 2 inches of compost to help retain moisture. Cinnamon fern thrives in consistently damp soil, making it an ideal companion for other water-loving plants. For inspiration, check out the harmonious combination in “Shade Planting Plan with Cinnamon Fern” below. Divide plants every three to four years in spring, especially when the cinnamon spikes are smaller, and the center stops producing new growth.
No pruning is necessary; just remove dead or damaged leaves as you see them. The cinnamon-colored fronds will naturally fade, but you can clip them off at the base for a tidier appearance. Leave spent fronds on the plant as they go dormant in the fall to act as natural mulch and protect the roots during winter. Clean up remaining plant material in spring when new growth emerges.
Plant source
Prairie Nursery, 800-476-9453
Shade garden plan with cinnamon fern
Astilbe’s airy plumes add splashes of color amid the backdrop of the cinnamon fern’s fine-textured fronds. Bright hakonechloa foliage creates a cascading effect and adds movement while the dwarf hosta provides a cool, blue-green ground cover in this shady border.
A) Cinnamon fern (Osmundastrum cinnamomea)
Perennial; tall, arching yellow green fronds in summer that mature to gold and orange in fall; part to full shade; 2 to 3 ft. tall and wide; cold hardy USDA zones 3 to 9
B) Hosta (Hosta ‘Blue Mouse Ears’)
Perennial; bell-shaped lavender blooms in midsummer; blue to gray to green round leaves; part to full shade; 4 to 6 in. tall, 9 to 12 in. wide, 12 in. flower scapes; cold hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8
C) Hakonechloa (Hakonechloa macra ‘All Gold’)
Perennial; insignificant yellow-green flowers bloom above bright golden-yellow leaves from mid- to late summer; part to full shade;12 to 18 in. tall and wide; cold hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9
D) Astilbe (Astilbe x arendsii ‘Amethyst’) Perennial; fluffy lilac-purple flowers in summer; part to full shade; 12 to 24 in. tall, 30 to 36 in. wide; cold hardy in USDA zones 4 to 8
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