Osmunda cinnamomea

Step into a North American wetlands grove, and you’ll find Osmunda cinnamomea, the majestic Cinnamon Fern, standing tall on fronds that arch with the dignity of cathedral windows. Native to rich, damp woodlands and boggy stream edges across eastern North America, this stately fern thrives in humus-laden soil—its base cloaked in cinnamon‑colored fibers that inspired its timeless name. In spring, the center of each dark green vase unleashes erect fertile fronds—spore‑tossing “cinnamon sticks” that rise above sterile foliage before maturing to warm, russet brown.

Through summer, the broad, bipinnate sterile fronds hold steady at 2–3 ft tall and wide, reaching up to 5–6 ft in perpetually moist conditions. By autumn, those deep‑green arches fade to gold, creating a silent encore before dormancy. Renowned for its resilience from USDA Zones 3 to 9 (even into 10), the Cinnamon Fern demands little beyond shade to part shade, consistent moisture, and a rich, organic bed . Easy-going, deer-resistant, low-maintenance, and free of serious disease, it is, as some might say, "one of the finest native ferns for bringing drama and calm together" in any shaded garden.

Highlights

• Native Range: Eastern North America—bogs, streambanks, wetlands

• Size: Sterile fronds 2–3 ft tall (up to 6 ft in ideal moisture); width 2–3 ft

• Dimorphic Foliage: Early spring fertile “cinnamon” fronds, followed by graceful sterile green fronds turning gold in fall

• Hardiness: USDA Zones 3–9 (even to Zone 10 with moisture)

• Conditions: Shade to deep shade; moist to wet, humus-rich, slightly acidic soils; tolerates full sun only in saturated soil

• Low Maintenance: Clump-forming; remove dead fronds in spring; deer-resistant and pest-free