Does it need full sun?

It prefers partial shade but will tolerate full sun if the soil stays consistently wet.

How often should I water it?

Keep the soil constantly moist, as this fern does not tolerate drying out.

Guide botanique

Royal fern.

Osmunda regalis

Prononciation os-MUN-duh ree-GAL-iss

Aussi appelée European royal fern, Green Fern

The royal fern is a stunning, prehistoric looking plant that loves damp, shady spots in the garden. It features large, elegant fronds that add a lush texture to any woodland setting. You will find it thrives best when kept consistently moist.

Une autre photo de Royal fern — Photo de Karthik Thrikkadeeri (CC BY) via iNaturalist

En un coup d'œil

Niveau d'entretien: Facile
Type de plante: Fern
Lumière: Partial to full shade
Lumière en intérieur: Lumière moyenne
Arrosage: Tous les 2 à 5 jours
Taille adulte: 3 to 6 feet
Croissance: Moyenne
Rusticité: USDA 3 à 9
Floraison: Does not flower

Entretien

Keep the soil constantly damp, as this fern hates to dry out. Watch for browning frond tips, which often signal that the plant needs more humidity or water. It prefers rich, acidic soil to stay healthy and vibrant.

Arrosage: Keep the soil consistently moist to the touch at all times.
Engrais: Apply a balanced, slow release fertilizer during the active growing season.
Taille: Trim back dead or damaged fronds in late winter before new growth appears.
Rempotage: Repot only when the root system has completely filled the current container.
Sol: Moist, acidic, organic rich soil
pH du sol: Acidic
Température: -30 à 35°C
Humidité: 60 à 90%
Résistance à la sécheresse: Faible
Durée de vie: Perennial, can live for many decades.
Résistance aux chevreuils et lapins: Élevée

Signes qu'il faut rempoter

roots growing out of the drainage holes
stunted growth during the active season
soil drying out too quickly

Sécurité

Humains: The plant is not considered toxic to humans, but it is not meant for consumption.
Enfants: The plant is safe for children, though the fronds can be slightly coarse to the touch.
Allergènes de contact: The spores can sometimes cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
Allergènes aéroportés: The fine dust from spores may irritate the lungs of those with asthma or severe allergies.
Comestibilité: The fiddleheads of this fern are generally considered inedible and potentially toxic, so avoid consuming them.

Comment l'identifier

Large, arching, bipinnate fronds
Bright green, leathery leaflets
Distinctive fertile, tassel like tips
Clump forming growth habit

Hauteur: 0,6 à 1,8m
Envergure: 0,6 à 1,2m
Feuilles: bright green, bronze-tinted in spring, deciduous
Fleurs: 0cm

Problèmes courants

Scale — Small insects that attach to the stems and suck plant sap.

La cultiver

Multiplication: division, spores
Quand planter: spring, autumn
Hivernage: Cut back the dead fronds in late winter before new growth begins. Mulch the base with organic matter to protect the roots from extreme temperature fluctuations.
En pot: It grows well in large containers, provided you use a moisture retentive mix and keep the pot sitting in a shallow tray of water.

Division

1. Carefully lift the clump in early spring.
2. Use a sharp spade to divide the root mass into smaller sections.
3. Replant immediately into moist, acidic soil.
4. Water thoroughly until established.

Pair this fern with moisture loving plants that provide a contrasting texture to its large, arching fronds.

Bonnes associations

Hosta — They share similar shade and moisture requirements.
Siberian iris — They thrive in the same damp soil conditions.

Espèces similaires

Matteuccia struthiopteris — It has a similar large, upright growth habit.

Science

Famille: Osmundaceae
Genre: Osmunda
Ordre: Osmundales
Classe: Polypodiopsida
Région d'origine: Found across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
Préservation: It is protected in some parts of its range due to habitat loss, so always source from reputable nurseries.

It survives in the wild by colonizing wet, acidic soils near streams and marshes where it faces little competition.

Intérêt pour la faune: provides cover for small amphibians, nesting material for birds
Utilisations: bog gardens, woodland borders, pond edges

Au fil des saisons

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Floraison

Fructification

Feuillage

Repères écologiques

Salinité: 1/9
Réaction du sol: 3/9
Lumière: 4/9
Température: 5/9
Humidité: 8/9
Nutriments: 4/9

Taxonomie vérifiée avec le GBIF.

Ce qu'on demande souvent

Does it need full sun?: It prefers partial shade but will tolerate full sun if the soil stays consistently wet.
How often should I water it?: Keep the soil constantly moist, as this fern does not tolerate drying out.

D'où vient le nom

The genus name honors Osmunder, a legendary waterman who hid his family in a patch of these ferns. The species name regalis means royal, referring to its impressive stature.

Bon à savoir

It is one of the largest ferns in the Northern Hemisphere.
The plant can live for many decades in ideal conditions.
It is sometimes called the royal fern because of its majestic size.
It thrives in waterlogged soils where many other plants would rot.

Aussi dans

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Cette page est un guide général. Pocket Botanist diagnostique les problèmes directement à partir d'une photo de ta plante, adapte l'arrosage à sa luminosité et te prévient quand il faut t'en occuper.

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Ce guide a été généré par IA et vérifié avec la taxonomie du GBIF. Il s'agit d'informations générales, et non de conseils horticoles ou vétérinaires. Découvre comment nous concevons ces guides.