Cinnamon Fern

Light Needs

Partial Shade to Full Sun

(At Least 3 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

2-3 Feet

Mature Spread

2-3 Feet

Growing Zones

3 to 8

Native plants do so many great things in a cultivated garden. Cinnamon Fern (Osmunda cinnamomea) is the perfect native plant to add cover for wildlife and color to the wet woodland garden. The tall, green fronds are enhanced by even taller cinnamon-brown spikes that are short-lived in the spring. Osmunda ferns are also the source of osmunda fibers used in orchid propagation. Cinnamon Fern makes a lovely medium-height groundcover in large woodland areas or can be used for mixed containers on a shady deck or patio. 

Cinnamon fern is naturally deer resistant and not bothered by many diseases. Overwatering or boggy soil does not bother this fern; you can incorporate it into a rain garden plan in zone 1 or 2. Ferns are drought tolerant when grown in a shady garden. They will require more moisture if grown in a part-sun location. Ferns are the most trouble-free garden plant, and Cinnamon Fern can be grown anywhere in the United States. 

Cinnamon Fern Care

Plant Cinnamon Fern in well-draining soil on the acidic side of a neutral pH. Plants growing in part shade will require more watering than those in shadier spots. Mulch the root zone with organic compost or shredded leaves. This will help enrich the soil and retain moisture longer. Since ferns are native plants, they typically do not require much supplemental fertilizing. Mulching in the spring with compost will provide all the nutrients they need for a season of growth. 

No pruning is necessary for these ferns. They are herbaceous perennials whose top growth will die back fully in the fall. Leave the spent fronds on the plant during the winter. The fronds will insulate the growth crown while providing a habitat for local wildlife over winter. Clean-up of the top growth can wait until late winter or early fall and is as easy as removing any dead plant material from the crown to make way for new growth. Cinnamon Ferns multiply at a moderate rate and can be divided every 3-4 years.  

Cinnamon Fern Spacing

The mature size of Cinnamon Fern is 3 x 3 feet. Plant multiple ferns so that they are 2 feet apart on the center of each plant. Grow Cinnamon Fern in containers that have at least a 10-inch diameter.