Not the plant you're looking for? Search over 300,000 plants

Osmunda claytoniana

interrupted fern

A deciduous fern with lance-shaped, bipinnate fronds surrounding erect, central fronds, on which the fertile middle pinnae are contracted and rusty-brown

Other common names
Clayton's flowering fern
Buy this plant
Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metres
Time to ultimate height
2–5 years
Ultimate spread
0.1–0.5 metres
Growing conditions
Clay
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Poorly–drained
pH
Acid
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Green
Summer Green
Autumn Brown Red
Winter
Position
  • Partial shade
Aspect

North–facing or West–facing or East–facing

Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness
H6
Botanical details
Family
Osmundaceae
Native to the UK
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
Genus

Osmunda are medium-sized to large deciduous ferns, usually from wet places, with erect or arching, pinnate or bipinnate fronds, bearing spores either on modified pinnae or on separate, smaller fronds

Name status

Correct

Plant range
North America, Asia

How to grow

Cultivation

Easy to grow in most cool, moist, lightly shaded sites and will grow in full sun if given plenty of moisture. Useful for very wet sites. See how to grow ferns for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by sowing spores as soon as ripe or by division in early spring or autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Flower borders and beds
Pruning

Dead or damaged fronds may be removed as necessary

Pests

Generally pest-free outdoors

Diseases

Generally disease-free outdoors

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.