Plant sensitive fern in spring, or in fall at least six weeks before the ground freezes, with the rhizome just below the soil. Divide from the edge of a clump in spring if you want more plants.
Plant in spring, or in fall at least six weeks before the ground freezes
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| When | Spring is the usual window; fall works at least six weeks before the ground freezes | Do not plant into frozen ground |
| Depth | Set the crown at the same level as in the pot, with the rhizome just under the soil | Do not bury the crown deep |
| Spacing | About 1 to 2 feet; the rhizomes will fill the gap | Do not pack plants into a tiny mixed bed you want to stay open |
| Mix | Moist rich loam, clay, or sand, in a prepared bed that stays wet | Do not drop it into a dry hole and walk away |
sensitive fern goes in as a nursery pot or a rhizome piece, not as a dry-bed transplant. Plant in spring, once the ground is working, and keep the soil moist through the first season. Fall planting needs at least six weeks before freeze so the roots take. [1] The rhizomes run near the surface. Set the crown at the same level as in the pot, with the rhizome just under the soil, not buried deep. [2] Space plants about 1 to 2 feet. A mass planting can sit closer; a mixed bed needs more room because the clump will spread. Water in the same day. The shade and never-dry plan for the season is on How to Grow Sensitive Fern.
- Keep the pot moist from the shop to the bed. Do not let the rhizome dry on a bench.
- Dig a hole as deep as the pot and a little wider, in soil that will stay moist.
- Set the crown at the same level as in the pot, with the rhizome just under the soil, and firm the backfill.
- Water in, and keep the soil moist through the first season.
How deep do I plant the rhizome?
Keep the crown at the same level as in the pot, with the rhizome just under the soil. Do not bury it deep.
Divide from the edge of a clump in spring
Division is how this plant multiplies in a garden. In early spring, as new growth shows, lift the edge of a crowded clump, cut a piece of rhizome with roots and at least one growing bud, and replant the same day at the original soil level. [3] Fall after frost also works if the ground is still open. Keep the new piece moist while it takes. [4]
- Lift the edge of a crowded clump in early spring, or after frost in fall.
- Cut a rhizome piece that has roots and at least one growing bud.
- Replant the same day at the original soil level, just under the soil, and water in.
- Keep the new piece moist until it holds.
How do I get more plants?
Divide from the edge of a clump in spring. Keep a bud and some roots on each piece, and replant the same day.
If the new fronds stall and the crown rots, it was planted too deep in a sour hole. Reset the rhizome just under the soil in moist ground that still has air.
FAQ
Can I grow it from spores?
Not as the usual home method. Spores need sterile, constantly moist mix and a long wait. Divide a rhizome instead.
Can I plant it in a dry mixed border?
No. A bed that dries between waterings browns the fronds. Plant it where the soil stays moist, then let the rhizomes run.
How far apart should I plant?
About 1 to 2 feet. Closer if you want a mass that fills in. Wider if the bed has to stay open around other plants.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] Prairie Nursery -
https://www.prairienursery.com/sensitive-fern-onoclea-sensibilis.html - [2] Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center -
https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ONSE - [3] Clemson Cooperative Extension -
https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/hardy-ferns/ - [4] Plants For A Future -
https://pfaf.org/USER/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Onoclea+sensibilis
This note is part of Onoclea Guides.
More planting notes by plant are gathered in Planting Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors