Sensitive Ferns are tough; their common name refers only to their sensitivity to frost. The slightest frost can cause wilting or blackening to these otherwise easy to grow ferns. They are consistently lime-green during the growing season. Sensitive Ferns have a strongly colonizing habit in moist to wet soils. They are more tolerant of full sun conditions when they're able to be consistently moist throughout the season. One established specimen plant can spread up to 12 inches in all directions! These ferns lend themselves to being planted as the border between lawn and woods, filling in as a groundcover, or holding their own against other colonizing species that share the same growing conditions, such as Ostrich Ferns. The fertile fronds in late summer remain throughout the winter and have a brown, woody and beaded appearance which is prized for floral arrangements. Sources:
Native Ferns, Moss, & Grasses by William Cullina
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Missouri Botanical Garden
The Morton Arboretum-Black Walnut Toxicity
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Onoclea sensibilis (Sensitive Fern) - 3QT
Sensitive Fern
Plant Care & Installation Quick-Guide
Proper acclimation and installation are key to your plant's success. Please cross-reference these tips with your plant's specific ID tags:
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Pre-Planting: Store plants in a light-appropriate area on soil or grass (avoid hot concrete or asphalt) and water daily until the soil is saturated and the pot feels heavy. If temperatures drop below 30°F, move pots to a garage or cover them to prevent root freeze.
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Installation: Dig a hole matching the depth of the pot, remove the fabric container, and ensure the plant’s crown or root flare is level with the ground. Fill gaps with soil, water heavily, and apply 2 inches of mulch—keeping it clear of the stem.
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Ongoing Care: Check moisture daily by feeling 1–2 inches into the soil; water deeply at the base if the soil feels dry or warm. Newly installed plants require frequent watering (up to 3–4 times weekly in heat) until fully established, which can take a few months for perennials and up to two years for trees.