Sensitive Fern
Onoclea sensibilis
Also listed as Angiopteris sensibilis, Calypterium sensibile
Also known as Bead Fern
Climate Match for your location
See how well Sensitive Fern grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
A delicate deciduous fern native to eastern North America, prized for its feathery, bright green fronds that turn bronze in fall. It thrives in consistently moist woodland settings and spreads via rhizomes to form attractive colonies.
Why grow it
Sensitive fern offers reliable deciduous ground cover for moist woodland understories where many other ferns struggle with drainage or shade intensity. Its bright green summer fronds and bronze fall color provide longer seasonal interest than some evergreen fern species, while its rhizomatous spread makes it useful for stabilizing banks or colonizing difficult wet areas without requiring division or replanting.
Watch out for
This fern spreads vigorously once established in ideal conditions (consistently moist, acidic soil) and may outcompete slower-growing neighbors in smaller gardens. The fronds are somewhat brittle and easily damaged by foot traffic or heavy pruning, so site it away from high-traffic areas.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Onocleaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming
Seasonality
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A delicate deciduous fern native to eastern North America, prized for its feathery, bright green fronds that turn bronze in fall. It thrives in consistently moist woodland settings and spreads via rhizomes to form attractive colonies.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Sensitive Fern grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Sensitive fern offers reliable deciduous ground cover for moist woodland understories where many other ferns struggle with drainage or shade intensity. Its bright green summer fronds and bronze fall color provide longer seasonal interest than some evergreen fern species, while its rhizomatous spread makes it useful for stabilizing banks or colonizing difficult wet areas without requiring division or replanting.
Watch out for
This fern spreads vigorously once established in ideal conditions (consistently moist, acidic soil) and may outcompete slower-growing neighbors in smaller gardens. The fronds are somewhat brittle and easily damaged by foot traffic or heavy pruning, so site it away from high-traffic areas.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Onocleaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming
Seasonality
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Similar herbs you might consider:
Enter your ZIP code to see top native species and strong climate fits for you.