About
Osmunda cinnamomea, the cinnamon fern, is a deciduous fern forming rosettes of erect, light blue-green, lance-shaped, bipinnate sterile fronds, surrounding shorter, cinnamon-brown, fertile fronds in the centre. A striking and elegant fern for a moist, shaded, woodland border or bog garden.
About the genus
Osmunda are medium-sized to large deciduous ferns from wet habitats with erect or arching, pinnate or bipinnate fronds bearing spores either on modified pinnae or on separate, smaller fronds. Excellent ferns for moist, shaded positions.
Growing conditions
SunlightPartial shade
Soil typeClay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Poorly-drained
AspectNorth-facing, West-facing, East-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH6
Plant details
Plant typeFerns
HabitBushy
FoliageDeciduous
Height1-1.5 metres
Spread0.5-1 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCottage and informal garden, City and courtyard gardens
Native toTrop. America & SE Asia
Care notes
CultivationGrow in moist, fertile, humus-rich slightly acidic soil in light dappled shade. See how to grow ferns for further advice
PruningNo pruning required
PropagationPropagate by sowing spores at 15-16°C (59-61°F). These need to be sown with in three days of ripening as they loose their viability very quickly. Alternatively, divide well established colonies into clumps in either autumn or early spring
Pest resistanceGenerally pest-free
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free