Cinnamon Fern
Osmundastrum cinnamomeum
Cinnamon-brown fertile fronds rise like torches in early spring before the green vase unfurls. Hummingbirds gather its wool for nests.
Typically 1 pint–1 gal · $9–$30 · final price at pickup
- Thu, Aug 138 AM – 4 PM
- Fri, Aug 148 AM – 4 PM
- Sat, Aug 158 AM – 2 PM
Those cinnamon-brown fertile fronds rising in early spring before anything else is up are one of the most beautiful early-season moments in the woodland garden.
In early spring, Cinnamon Fern sends up erect, bright cinnamon-brown fertile fronds before any green growth appears, columns of warm spice color rising from bare ground like botanical torches. They turn deep brown as the season progresses, then the surrounding vegetative fronds unfurl, large, graceful, lance-shaped, creating the classic vase form that makes Cinnamon Fern one of the most recognizable native ferns in the woodland garden. The contrast between the central cinnamon fertile fronds and the surrounding green vegetative fronds is genuinely beautiful, and the fronds stay attractive all season. Hummingbirds use the woolly material from the frond bases as nesting material, a behavior worth watching for in spring when the new growth is unfurling. Plant it in moist, shaded sites: along rain garden edges, at the base of shaded slopes, or in woodland gardens where consistent moisture is available. It forms large, impressive clumps over time that create bold structure in the mid-story of the shade garden. The golden fall color of the fronds adds a final burst of seasonal interest before dormancy.
A nursery-grown plant, ready for the ground.
Healthy, container-grown cinnamon fern propagated on-site at Hill House from regional genetics. Includes a one-page care card. We make every effort to supply plants as listed; occasionally we substitute a similar species of equal value.
- Sun
- Part sun
- Water
- Average
- Mature size
- 2–4 ft · 24–36 in wide
- USDA zones
- 3–9
- Family
- Osmundaceae
- Native range
- Eastern North America, Central America, and eastern Asia; moist, shaded habitats
Care notes for cinnamon fern.
Plant in part shade to full shade in moist, acidic, well-drained to wet soil. Tolerates more sun with consistently moist soil. Remove old fronds in early spring before new fiddleheads emerge. Do not remove the woolly fiber at the frond base. hummingbirds use it for nesting. No fertilizer needed. Divide large clumps in early spring if desired.
Pairs well with these.
Same light, same soil, same wildlife. Janet's picks to plant alongside cinnamon fern.
Or skip the guesswork.
Curated packages bundle complementary species for an instant habitat. One reservation, one pickup day, a printed layout map.
Short on Space Package
For gardeners who have an abundance of passion but are short on space, this package features tidy, upright, clump-forming natives that behave and function well in small spaces.
Shade Bed Package
Ferns, sedges, and woodland natives that thrive under existing trees.
Birder’s Paradise Package
For the avid bird watchers and budding ornithologists in our community, the Birder’s Paradise Package consists of species that Hill House Nursery staff and longtime native plant advocates such as Doug Tallamy consider ‘premier bird garden plants’.