Cinnamon Fern

The Cinnamon Fern (Osmundastrum cinnamomeum) is a striking, deciduous fern native to North America, noted for the distinctive, cinnamon-colored fertile fronds that emerge in spring. This low-maintenance plant is a popular choice for moist, shaded gardens due to its elegant, vase-shaped green foliage.

Key Characteristics

• Appearance: The fern produces two types of fronds. The sterile, arching green fronds (up to 5 feet long) form a handsome clump, while stiff, erect, spore-bearing fronds emerge from the center in early spring, quickly turning a rich cinnamon-brown color. The name comes from these brown fronds and the cinnamon-colored fibers at the frond bases, not a scent or flavor.
• Size: Cinnamon ferns typically grow 2 to 5 feet tall and can spread 2 to 4 feet wide.
• Deciduous Nature: The plant is deciduous, meaning its fronds turn a golden yellow in the fall before dying back for the winter, with new growth reappearing in the spring as "fiddleheads".
• Wildlife Value: The fuzz on the young fiddleheads is used by songbirds as nesting material, and the dense clumps provide cover for small mammals and frogs. It is highly resistant to deer browsing.