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

Osmunda regalis 'Cristata'

royal fern 'Cristata'

'Cristata' is a robust deciduous fern, slowly forming a massive clump, with fronds bipinnately divided, the fronds, pinnae and pinnules forked or crested at the tips; fertile fronds are tipped with rusty-brown spore-bearing segments in summer

Synonyms
Osmunda regalis Cristata Group
Buy this plant
Size
Ultimate height
1–1.5 metres
Time to ultimate height
5–10 years
Ultimate spread
1–1.5 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Clay
Loam
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Poorly–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Green
Summer Green
Autumn Brown Red
Winter
Position
  • Full shade
  • Full sun
  • Partial shade
Aspect

South–facing or North–facing or East–facing or West–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

Accepted

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. Will tolerate alkaline soils if plenty of fibrous compost is incorporated. Useful for very wet sites

Propagation

Propagate 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.