Overview

Onoclea sensibilis is a suckering bogs in the genus Onoclea, part of the Onocleaceae family, with deciduous foliage. It typically grows around 0.5-1 metres tall and 1.5-2.5 metres wide, reaching full size in around 5-10 years. Onoclea sensibilis grows best in full shade and partial shade, and tolerates most soils and acid and neutral pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H6. It is low maintenance. Suggested uses include cottage and informal garden, wildflower meadow, low maintenance, flower borders and beds and underplanting of roses and shrubs. It is native to Alabama, Amur, Arkansas, China North-Central, China Southeast, Chita, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida and Georgia.

About

Onoclea sensibilis, the sensitive fern, also known as the bead fern, is a coarse-textured, medium to large-sized deciduous perennial fern. The name comes from its sensitivity to frost, the fronds dying quickly when first touched by it. It is sometimes treated as the only species in Onoclea, but some authors do not consider the genus monotypic. It is native to North America, Alabama, Amur, Arkansas, China North-Central and other regions. Mature plants reach roughly 0.5-1 metres tall and 1.5-2.5 metres wide, carrying deciduous foliage. In the garden it prefers full shade and partial shade and most soil types. It tolerates acid and neutral soils, moist but well-drained, poorly-drained conditions and east-facing, south-facing, north-facing and west-facing aspects.

Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0 — Onoclea sensibilis

About the genus

Onoclea is a genus of plants in the family Onocleaceae, native to moist habitats in eastern Asia and eastern North America. They are deciduous ferns with sterile fronds arising from creeping rhizomes in spring, dying down at first frost. Fertile fronds appear in late summer.

Wikipedia contributors, "Onoclea", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Onoclea

Growing conditions

Best soil and position for Onoclea

Sunlight

Full shade, Partial shade

Soil type

Clay, Loam, Sand

Soil pH

Acid, Neutral

Soil moisture

Moist but well-drained, Poorly-drained

Aspect

East-facing, South-facing, North-facing, West-facing

Exposure

Sheltered

UK hardiness

H6

Plant details

Onoclea sensibilis size, habit and characteristics

Plant type

Bogs, Ferns

Habit

Suckering

Foliage

Deciduous

Height

0.5-1 metres

Spread

1.5-2.5 metres

Time to full height

5-10 years

Suggested uses

Cottage and informal garden, Wildflower meadow, Low Maintenance, Flower borders and beds, Underplanting of roses and shrubs

Native to

Alabama, Amur, Arkansas, China North-Central, China Southeast, Chita, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia

Care notes

Pruning and caring for Onoclea sensibilis

Cultivation

Prefers moist, shaded environments; tolerates wet soils; avoid dry conditions

Pruning

Remove dead or damaged fronds in early spring before new growth emerges

Propagation

Sowing spores as soon as ripe, Division in spring

Pest resistance

Generally pest-free outdoors

Disease resistance

Generally disease-free outdoors

Frequently asked questions