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Royal Fern {Bare Root Plants, min 25}
24 customer reviews
Osmunda regalis (AKA O. mexicana, O. palmeri, O. spectabilis, Aphyllocalpa regalis, O. 'panigrahiana', Flowering Fern, Regal Fern)
Pronunciation: os-MUN-duh ree-GAL-is
Product: 318
Shipping description: This product can be shipped to all 48 continental states

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Content note: AI-assisted: Some images, descriptions, or plant specifications on this page may have been created or revised with the assistance of AI. This content is checked, but inaccuracies may remain.

Please also note: Images show mature plants; young plants may take several years to develop similar colors. Flower and foliage colors vary with season, growing conditions, and photography. If this plant is new to you, or you would like a broader sense of its natural color range, please view additional photographs [here], and feel free to contact us with questions.
If you seek life-size versions of feathery green foliage, the Royal Fern will suit you perfectly. It is the largest and most spectacular North American fern. Massive in size, its sterile fronds can reach from 2-5 feet in height and stretch up to 1 1/2 feet broad.

The sterile fronds are bipinnate with 7-9 pairs of pinnae up to 12 inches long. Each pinnae has 7-13 pairs of 1-2 1/2 inch long and 1/2-3/4 inch broad pinnules.

Uniquely, this fern offers both a sterile and fertile frond. Unlike most ferns, the fertile fronds are produced in early autumn and are erect and shorter (8-20 inches tall) than their counterparts with around 2-3 pairs of sterile pinnae at their base, and 7-14 pairs of densely clustered sporangia above.

This species is an ideal accent plant for landscaping due to its longevity, large size, and distinctly different (sterile and fertile) components offering constant and ever-changing visual and textural elements. When mature, the Royal Fern features lovely rust-colored flower spikes and hairless leaves, though when the fronds are young, they are quite hairy as they emerge.

Broad, oblong-shaped leaflets divide its bright-green fronds. This semi-evergreen, herbaceous plant not only requires, but loves moist soil, and when planted near water (including rivers and stream-banks where running water continually covers their rhizomes), they have the ability to grow into incredibly large colonies.

While native to woodland and forest, they generally prefer fairly high light intensity. They are winter dormant in northern zones, have a slow to moderate growth rate, and are composed of symmetric clumps. Given their size, Royal Ferns have a massive, creeping rhizome with a rootstock that can protrude several centimeters above the ground, somewhat similar to a short trunk covered with leaf sheaths and roots.

Royal Ferns offer a constantly changing perennial with fanning, fresh foliage in man-size portions and rich rusty flower spikes. It's no wonder this fern is called Royal; in truth, it is quite majestic to behold.

Gardener Tips
A perfect application for this fern is a woodland area near a stream where you'd like lush green color to contrast the grey bark of neighboring trees. Over time you'll create a forest of ferns standing guard over your stream.

If you are considering purchasing this plant in bare root form, please read about bare root plants so you know what to expect.
See other plants that go well with this plant.
General information about Ferns:
When gardeners and landscape designers are looking for a dramatic, vibrant spray of color and foliage, they will often consider ferns for their project. In addition to sweeping texture and lush greenery, ferns work wonderfully as independent or companion perennials.

Perfect in mass plantings where they create the feeling of a field of grass swaying gently in soft breezes, ferns are also delightful as borders where they stand like shapely chartreuse soldiers at the edges of garden beds. Then again, when used as accents, in single plantings, or clusters amidst a rock garden, you have a moving work of willowy art.

But what to choose? You’ll be pleased to know that after more than 40 years of experimenting with various ferns, we have compiled a selection of the easiest to grow and hardiest ferns. Essentially, we’ve narrowed the list down for you, so you can select from our varieties with confidence. A bonus with our ferns is that all, except Japanese Painted Fern and Japanese Shield Fern are native to the United States.

Our ferns generally thrive in part shade and full shade. Have a full sun location? Southern Shield Fern even tolerates full sun! You will love the hardiness of our ferns as all of them are tolerant of drought and most are rarely eaten by deer.

Selections like Christmas Fern are wonderful erosion control options. With some ferns being evergreen and some semi-evergreen, you are sure to find the option that works wonderfully for your garden. Be sure to check each plant's Description tab for details.

Special note when planting bare root ferns in hot weather: If you plant bare root ferns during hot weather it is common for the foliage to die off. Do not fret, as long as you keep them moist they will grow back foliage. Depending on the severity of the heat it might not be until after summer ends.

See all ferns
Specifications
Shipping
No unusual shipping concerns for this plant.
FREE SHIPPING - Classy Groundcovers offers free shipping, and your plants never spend more than three days in transit.

Precise delivery - another benefit from shopping with us is that you know hpw to control exactly when your order will be shipped.

Shipping information that applies to all plants:
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- Special Delivery Instructions
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Care
Performs best in well-drained (but moist) soil with added organic compost or peat moss. Best not to allow soil to dry out.
Will tolerate sun if given enough moisture.
Ferns have delicate foliage that often suffers during shipment and transplanting. Cut off any foliage that is broken, bent, brown or yellow - the plants will quickly recuperate with fresh growth. Bare root ferns are particularly prone to foliage loss, it is not uncommon to have to cut them off at ground level when transplanting. As long as the roots are firm they will recover, often showing new growth within weeks during warm months. If transplanting bare root ferns during warm weather they might not send up foliage until summer ends or the following spring (best to transplant bare root ferns when they are dormant: late fall to early spring).
General information that applies to all plants:
- Ground preparation, fertilization, pH
- Planting instructions
- Explanation and description of bare roots
- How to plant bare root plants
- If you cannot plant bare roots right away

Reviews
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Growing already
05/30/2015 By Katherine Titus
Product reviewed: Royal Fern {Bare Root Plants, min 10}

The plants arrived in great shape 9 days ago. Some have already started to open with the tallest nearly a foot high despite our unusually warm, dry weather.
More than expected
05/16/2015 By Daniel Wolfe
Product reviewed: Royal Fern {Bare Root Plants, min 25}

After being in the ground for almost a month, it appears we will end up with about 26 plants, after ordering the 25 pack. Plants arrived within a couple of days of order. There were a few extra in the package, so we didn't have to worry about loss. Very satisfied.

Thanks

We received these plants promptly after ordering. They arrived in moist, but not wet packing material in very good health. After soaking them overnight, I planted them in deep shade and watered daily. They have grown 6 inches in the last 2 weeks!
Which way is up?
06/11/2014 By Phyllis Lane
Product reviewed: Royal Fern {Bare Root Plants, min 10}

Thank you for responding so quickly. Looking forward to seeing these grow this summer.
06/11/2014 Update There were no planting instructions in the box. My neighbor and I gave it our best guess and planted the hard tip end down. Been in the ground for a... Read full review >
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