Sweet Fern

(Comptonia peregrina)

Sweet Fern (Comptonia peregrina)

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Estimated Native Range
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Summary

Comptonia peregrina, commonly known as Sweet Fern, is a deciduous subshrub or shrub native to eastern North America, particularly found in the Northeastern USA. It thrives in a variety of habitats including dry, sandy soils, open woodlands, and along forest edges. Sweet Fern typically grows to about 1.5 meters (4.9 feet) tall and is known for its fern-like leaves that emit a pleasant fragrance when crushed, contributing to its common name. The plant is monoecious, with separate male and female flowers on the same plant. Male (staminate) flowers are catkin-like and can grow up to 5 cm (2 inches) long, while female (pistillate) flowers are much smaller at 5 mm (0.2 inches) but elongate to 5 cm (2 inches) when the fruit forms. The fruit is a bristly burr containing 1 to 4 nutlets that are edible.

Sweet Fern is valued for its aromatic foliage and is often used in naturalistic plantings, as a ground cover, and for erosion control due to its ability to thrive in poor soils. It is also used in traditional medicine and as a culinary herb. This plant is low-maintenance, requiring minimal water once established and preferring well-drained, acidic soils. It can tolerate full sun to part shade. While generally pest-free, it can suffer from leaf spot diseases in humid conditions. Sweet Fern is not known for aggressive roots or invasiveness, making it a good choice for gardeners looking for a hardy, native species.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

  • Plant Type: Subshrub, Shrub
  • Height: 2-4 feet
  • Width: 4-8 feet
  • Growth Rate: Slow
  • Flower Color: N/A
  • Flowering Season: Spring
  • Leaf Retention: Deciduous

Growth Requirements

  • Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
  • Water: Low
  • Drainage: Fast, Medium

Common Uses

Bank Stabilization, Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Edible*Disclaimer: Easyscape's listed plant edibility is for informational use. Always verify the safety and proper identification of any plant before consumption., Fire Resistant, Fragrant, Groundcover, Low Maintenance, Salt Tolerant

Natural Habitat

Dry, sandy soils, open woodlands, and along forest edges

Other Names

Common Names: Fern-Gale, Sweet-Fern, Comptonie Voyageuse, Comptonie À Feuilles D’Asplénie

Scientific Names: , Comptonia peregrina, Myrica asplenifolia, Comptonia aspleniifolia, Comptonia peregrina var. aspleniifolia, Comptonia asplenifolia, Comptonia peregrina var. peregrina, Myrica peregrina, Comptonia comptonia, Liquidambar asplenifolia

GBIF Accepted Name: Comptonia peregrina (L.) Coult.