Royal Fern (Osmunda regalis)

General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit:	Fern
Life cycle:	Perennial
Sun Requirements:	Full Sun to Partial Shade Partial or Dappled Shade Partial Shade to Full Shade
Water Preferences:	Wet Wet Mesic Mesic
Soil pH Preferences:	Moderately acid (5.6 – 6.0) Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5) Neutral (6.6 – 7.3)
Minimum cold hardiness:	Zone 4a -34.4 °C (-30 °F) to -31.7 °C (-25 °F)
Maximum recommended zone:	Zone 10b
Plant Height:	To 6 feet
Leaves:	Deciduous
Underground structures:	Rhizome
Suitable Locations:	Bog gardening
Uses:	Erosion control Will Naturalize
Resistances:	Deer Resistant Rabbit Resistant Flood Resistant
Propagation: Other methods:	Division

Common names

Royal Fern
Flowering Fern

Photo Gallery

Location: my front yard
Date: 2010-05-25

Uploaded by doglover

Location: my garden, Gent, Belgium
Date: 2010-04-27
Unfolding frond..

Uploaded by bonitin

Location: Washington 8b
Date: 2017-04-23

Uploaded by Patty

Location: Washington 8b
Date: 2020-04-26

Uploaded by Patty

Location: Bide A Wee cottage garden, near Morpeth, Northumberland, UK
Date: 2008-06-25

Uploaded by kniphofia

Location: West Chester, Pennsylvania
Date: 2020-06-09
three plants together doing well

Uploaded by ILPARW

Location: West Chester, Pennsylvania
Date: 2020-06-09
brown fertile fronds among foliage

Uploaded by ILPARW

Location: my front yard
Date: 2012-04-24

Uploaded by doglover

Location: my front yard
Date: 2012-04-24
Royal fern with misc. perennials

Uploaded by doglover

Location: My zone 3a garden
Date: 2014-09-01

Uploaded by mcash70

Location: my garden, Gent, Belgium
Date: 2011-04-13
intimate conversation :))))

Uploaded by bonitin

Location: West Chester, Pennsylvania
Date: 2012-06-04
three plants together in a landscape

Uploaded by ILPARW

Location: West Chester, Pennsylvania
Date: 2012-06-04
fertile brown leaflets at top of fronds

Uploaded by ILPARW

Location: West Chester, Pennsylvania
Date: 2018-09-14
three plants together in a landscape

Uploaded by ILPARW

Location: My garden, Gent, Belgium
Date: 2015-04-24

Uploaded by bonitin

Location: Meadowlark Botanical Garden, Fairfax, Virginia (May 2022)
Date: 2022-05-01

Uploaded by sedumzz

Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2014-10-22

Uploaded by plantladylin

Location: Local nursery.
Date: 2008-0823

Uploaded by pirl

Location: My garden in Gent, Belgium
Date: 2012-11-25
Beautiful autumn colour!

Uploaded by bonitin

Location: my garden, Gent, Belgium
Date: 2011-04-18
Very expressive unfolding fronds..:-)

Uploaded by bonitin

Location: Riverview, Robson, B.C.
Date: 2007-05-25
6:41 pm. Emerging a bit later in the season, this fern struggles

Uploaded by HemNorth

Location: Riverview, Robson, B.C.
Date: 2008-06-07
1:51 pm. Stretching arms regally out, with a space for Campanula

Uploaded by HemNorth

Location: West Chester, Pennsylvania
Date: 2012-06-04
three brown fertile leaflet ends on fronds

Uploaded by ILPARW

Uploaded by Patty

Location: My garden in N E Pa.
Date: 2016-06-14

Uploaded by treehugger

Location: my front yard
Date: 2009-05-19
Royal Fern and Jack Frost Brunnera

Uploaded by doglover

Uploaded by admin

Location: Ontario, Canada
Date: 2012-06-09
showing how the blooms grow off the branches

Uploaded by threegardeners

Location: Ontario, Canada
Date: 2012-06-09

Uploaded by threegardeners

Uploaded by threegardeners

Photo Courtesy of Prairie Nursery. Used with Permission

Uploaded by Joy

Location: My zone 3a garden
Date: 2014-08-31

Uploaded by mcash70

Uploaded by Joy

Location: my garden, Gent, Belgium
Date: 2006-05-09
unfolding frond..

Uploaded by bonitin

Location: my garden, Gent, Belgium
Date: 2007-04-17
just emerging frond buds still covered in wool for protection aga

Uploaded by bonitin

Uploaded by vic

Location: my garden, Gent, Belgium
Date: 2011-05-03
Unfolding fronds backlit by morning sun..

Uploaded by bonitin

Location: my garden, Gent, Belgium
Date: 2007-06-01
Loves growing by water!

Uploaded by bonitin

Location: my garden, Gent, Belgium
Date: 2007-06-05

Uploaded by bonitin

Uploaded by vic

Location: RHS Harlow Carr, Yorkshire, UK
Date: 2020-06-07

Uploaded by kniphofia

This plant is tagged in:

Comments:

Posted by ILPARW (southeast Pennsylvania - Zone 6b) on Sep 21, 2018 9:11 AM concerning plant:

Royal Fern has a huge native range in wetlands and swamps from tropical South America up into southern Canada and in Eurasia and Africa. It is sold by some larger, diverse conventional nurseries and native plant nurseries, but it is not common in landscapes and gardens. Most of the gardening public does not know this species and it does need constantly moist or draining wet soil to do well. This species produces brown fertile leaflets at the tips of the fronds. I would say this is the tallest and biggest fern species that I know of.

Reply to this comment
Posted by gingin (Fountain, Florida - Zone 8b) on Dec 6, 2011 10:45 AM concerning plant:

This is one cool looking fern! Wonderful images

Reply to this comment

Plant Events from our members
aspenhill	On May 10, 2014	Obtained plant Baltimore County MG Plant Sale - qty 3
SuperHappyCamper	On April 15, 2023	Obtained plant Purchased from Drew at spring plant sale located at Gardens of Kennesaw Mtn.

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Discussion Threads about this plant

Thread Title	Last Reply	Replies
Absolutely fabulous!! by sandnsea2	Dec 6, 2011 10:20 AM	2

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Osmunda Royal Fern (Osmunda regalis)

Osmunda
Royal Fern (Osmunda regalis)