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- Partial Sun to Full Sun (At Least 5 Hours of Direct Sunlight)
- Mature Height 2 - 4 Feet
- Mature Spread 4 - 6 Feet
- Growing Zones 2 - 8
NativeStar® Blue Sea Sweetfern is a fantastic cultivar of the native plant and perfect to use in any wildflower or woodland garden plan. The fern-like foliage is highly textured and tough as nails for the most hard-to-grow areas. The foliage is tinged a blue-green during most of the year but turns impressive shades of yellow, orange, and tan during the fall, adding more interest to the garden. NativeStar® Blue Sea Sweetfern also has a fantastic scent of woodland ferns giving it the common name of Sweetfern.
Blue Sea Sweetfern is excellent as a taller-growing groundcover and thrives in even the worst of soil conditions. Pollution, salt, wind, heavy snow cover from plows, or gravelly soil are no match for this native cultivar. Plant multiple shrubs for hillside stabilization or in a wildlife area to attract beneficial insects. Sweetfern is the larval host for the Grey Hairstreak Butterfly while also supporting early pollinators with catkin-like blooms early in the spring before new foliage emerges.
NativeStar® Blue Sea Sweetfern Care
Plant Sweetfern in just about any soil texture or pH as long as it is well draining and not overly rich. Full sun to part shade will keep the bluish color of the foliage vibrant and allow Sweetbay to form flowers and seeds to support wildlife. Water about an inch a week until plants are fully established. Mulch with 2-3 inches of organic compost or arborist chips in the spring to help the soil to retain moisture. Supplemental fertilizing is not required.
Comptonia peregrina is slow to spread and not considered invasive. Spreading occurs by underground rhizomes that spread out from the original shrub. Prune back any winter-damaged branches in early spring before the foliage emerges. Thinning or trimming is only needed during the growing season to keep plants within bounds. Sweetfern is hardy for USDA zones 2-8 and requires no extra winter protection.
NativeStar® Blue Sea Sweetfern Spacing
NativeStar® Blue Sea Sweetfern has a mature height of 2-4 feet and a spread of 4-6 feet. Space plants at 3-4 feet apart to get quick coverage with this slow grower.
NativeStar® Blue Sea Sweetfern Information
| USDA Hardiness Zones: 2 - 8 |
| Plant Type: Perennials |
| Light Exposure: Partial Sun to Full Sun (At Least 5 Hours of Direct Sunlight) |
| Mature Height: 2 - 4 Feet |
| Mature Spread: 4 - 6 Feet |
| Spacing: 3 - 4 Feet |
| Habit: Spreading, Trailing, Upright |
| Flower Color(s): None |
| Flower Description: Inconspicuous |
| Bloom Period: |
| Foliage Type: Evergreen |
| Foliage Color(s): Green |
| Foliage Description: |
| Seasonal Interest: 4 Season Interest |
| Watering: Low |
| Resists: Deer |
| Tolerates: Drought |
| Attracts: Birds |
| Container Role: |
| Uses: Hedges & Privacy, Specimen or Focal Point, Wildlife Gardens |
| Features: Attracts Pollinators, Foliage Interest, Fragrant, Low Maintenance, Native to North America |
| Brand: American Beauties Native Plants |
| Common Name: NativeStar® Blue Sea Sweetfern |
| Other Name(s): |
| Scientific Name: Comptonia peregrina NativeStar® 'Blue Sea' |
- SKU:
- 1231012232-pc
Container Sizes
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on; type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
4.5" Pot
Also Know As:
4.5" Container
Plant Age:
~ 6 months
Plant Size:
~ 3"-6"
Pot Size:
~ 4.5"H x 3.75"W
Volume:
1.42 quarts
Quart Pot
Also Know As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
2.5 Quart
Also Know As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
#1 Pot
Also Know As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
#2 Pot
Also Know As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
#3 Pot
Also Know As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
For more detailed information, please click here.
Plant Addict Guarantee (Included On All Plant Orders)
Plant Addicts Warranty - 1 Year (Extra Purchase Required)
Guide: How to Care for Your New Plant(s)
Planter Shipping
Standard Colors: 2-3 business days
Special Order Colors: 8 weeks - this is due to the planter being custom made with the color(s) of your choice
Please Note: On special orders there can not be any cancellations
Plant Shipping
Time of Order:
Summer Shipping
- If there is extreme heat we’ll delay shipping.
- We’ll have to review what areas the plants are traveling through along with your location
Once your plant is shipped you’ll receive an email with tracking information. Depending on the above criteria we’ll ship your plant(s) towards beginning of the following week from your order. We put together this helpful guide of what to do when you receive your plants in the mail.
It is important to know that all of our plants are clearly labeled for which growing zones the plant can survive in. The plants are thoroughly trialed and tested in every growing zone before we state the plant can grow in a zone. Again, our #1 priority is to ship the plants to you healthy and ready to thrive in your location. So we will do everything in our power to do so.