Sensitive Fern:Native Plants of Maryland That Thrive in Your Garden

Feb 18, 2020 | Blog, Native Plant Spotlight

Native Plants of Maryland That Thrive in Your Garden: Sensitive Fern


sensitive fern

LGS Notes: Sensitive fern is deer and rabbit tolerant, and is one of our favorite ferns for the wet zone of rain gardens because of its tolerance to wet soil.  The name “sensitive fern” was given to it only because of its sensitivity to frost, as it will almost completely die back.  Throughout the growing season it is actually quite hardy and will tolerate most conditions as long as it is in shade. This is one that I truly have not seen the deer eat! I like planting sensitive fern with other wet loving shade perennials like turtlehead, ‘Espresso’ geranium and Cardinal flower.

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Maryland Native Plants That Thrive
Latin Name: Onoclea sensibalis
Common Name: Sensitive fern
Type: Fern
Family: Onocleaceae
Native Range: Eastern North America
Zone: 4 to 8
Height: 3.00 to 4.00 feet
Spread: 3.00 to 4.00 feet
Bloom Time: Non-flowering
Bloom Description: Non-flowering
Sun: Part shade to full shade
Water: Medium to wet
Maintenance: Medium
Suggested Use: Naturalize, Rain Garden
Tolerate: Deer, Rabbit, Heavy Shade, Clay Soil, Wet Soil, Black Walnut
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