The name comes from its tendency to wither quickly after the first frost, signaling the end of the growing season.
Unlike most ferns, Sensitive Fern produces special bead-like fertile fronds in summer, which persist through winter and provide visual interest.
Spreads by creeping rhizomes, forming colonies that help stabilize soil in moist habitats.
Fossil evidence shows that Sensitive Fern relatives date back millions of years, making it a living connection to prehistoric plant life.
The name comes from its tendency to wither quickly after the first frost, signaling the end of the growing season.
Unlike most ferns, Sensitive Fern produces special bead-like fertile fronds in summer, which persist through winter and provide visual interest.
Spreads by creeping rhizomes, forming colonies that help stabilize soil in moist habitats.
Fossil evidence shows that Sensitive Fern relatives date back millions of years, making it a living connection to prehistoric plant life.
Bloom: summer
Habitats: edges of marshes; forested bogs; lowland sandy savannas; low shaded areas along small streams and vernal ponds; moist meadows; moist sand prairies; shaded seeps; swamps; wet to mesic deciduous woodlands; wooded bluffs;
Lifespan: perennial
Moisture: wet to moist
Plant type (height): fern (1.5 to 3 feet)
Requirements: partial sun to light shade
Soil: loamy or sandy soil containing decaying organic matter
