Bright green fronds rise into clumps that can reach 5 feet, giving royal fern (Osmunda regalis) the lofty, majestic bearing its name suggests. It is at its best in shady, damp corners and beside a pond, where soil that never dries out rewards you with foliage that lights up a flower bed.
| Name | Osmunda regalis |
|---|---|
| Family | Osmundaceae |
| Type | fern, perennial |
| Height | 5 feet (1.5 meters) |
| Exposure | part sun |
| Soil | rather moist |
| Foliage | deciduous |
| Flowering | none |
Spring or fall.
Water abundantly after having planted your royal Osmunda.
Royal fern is a plant that loves water and shade. Perfect for planting near a body of water.
In pots, royal fern simply needs a lot of soil. Choose a rather large pot. The larger the pot, the bigger your fern will grow.
Repot every 3-4 years. Topdress every year or every two years. For shaded courtyards, this is a great plant to grow.
Royal fern asks for very little, but the few jobs it does need each fall on their own season. Here is the whole year in one glance, whether your clump is in the ground or in a pot.
| Job | When | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Planting | early to mid-spring, or mid-autumn | Set the clump in moist soil in shade and water abundantly |
| Dividing | early to mid-spring | Multiply the plant by crown division |
| Watering | midsummer to late summer | Keep the soil moist through heat waves |
| Cutting back | mid to late autumn | Cut the brown fronds and pile them over the clump as frost protection |
| Repotting and topdressing | every 3–4 years (topdress yearly or every two years) | Move pot-grown ferns to a larger container full of soil |
Apart from these, the clump can simply be left to build up size year after year.
Propagation is through crown division in spring.
They don’t need any pruning. In fall, you can cut dried-out, brown leaves and pile them over the clump to protect it against deep freezing.
Fern leaf mulch is among the best ones to provide insulation against the cold. Perfect to winterize plants and protect roots and bulbs underground.
This fern displays a majestic bearing thanks to its height, but its lofty elegance also is appealing. It is perfect for shady, damp areas where the bright green fronds will bring color to your flower beds.
Keep the soil moist during summer heat waves.
