• Photo of Osmunda claytoniana (Osmunda claytonianas)

Plant Profile: Osmunda claytoniana

Taxonomy: Osmunda claytoniana

Names

Interrupted Fern

  • Photo of Osmunda claytoniana (Osmunda claytonianas)

Phonetic Spelling:os-MUN-duh klay-ton-ee-AH-na

Genus:Osmunda

Species:claytoniana

Family:Osmundaceae

Interrupted Fern is a deciduous species indigenous to the central and eastern regions of Canada and the United States, typically thriving in upland forests with varying moisture levels, from moist to somewhat dry. This fern grows in clumps and features fertile leaflets that emerge from the center of its fronds, offering refuge for small mammals.

Osmunda claytoniana Feature Summary

Osmunda claytoniana Image Gallery

Tags

#fern
#small mammals
#NC native
#deer resistant
#clumping
#native fern
#shelter plant
#food source herbage
#coastal FAC
#Piedmont Mountains FAC
#bird friendly

Similar Plants

Osmunda claytoniana is often confused with:

Osmunda claytoniana Feature Summary

Attributes
Fruit
No fruits. This plants reproduces via spores.
Flowers
Whole Plant Traits
Native Plant
Fern
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Acid (<6.0)
Moist
Occasionally Wet
Occasionally Dry
Mountains
Piedmont
Leaves
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Landscape
Native Garden
Shade Garden
Songbirds
Small Mammals

Osmunda claytoniana Attributes

Osmunda claytoniana: Country Or Region Of Origin

Central, eastern Canada and U.S.A.

Osmunda claytoniana: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)

Heavy shade, Deer

Osmunda claytoniana: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Osmunda claytoniana Fruit

Osmunda claytoniana: Fruit Description

No fruits. This plants reproduces via spores.

Osmunda claytoniana Flowers

Osmunda claytoniana: Flower Description

No flowers.

Osmunda claytoniana Whole Plant Traits

Osmunda claytoniana: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Osmunda claytoniana Cultural Conditions

Osmunda claytoniana: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Osmunda claytoniana: Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Osmunda claytoniana: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Osmunda claytoniana: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Osmunda claytoniana Leaves

Osmunda claytoniana: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Osmunda claytoniana: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Osmunda claytoniana Stem

Osmunda claytoniana: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Osmunda claytoniana Landscape

Osmunda claytoniana: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Osmunda claytoniana: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Osmunda claytoniana: Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees