Description
Comptonia –
There is a single species of a spreading, suckering, deciduous shrub, in this genus. They occur in sandy, peaty, infertile soils of Eastern North America. It is grown for its alternate or clustered, linear to lance shaped, fern like leaves, aromatic on hot days or when crushed. In spring and early summer it bears catkins, male and female flowers on separate plants. Grow in wild or native garden.
Grow in poor or moderately fertile, moist but well drained, acidic soil, in partial shade or full sun. Resents transplanting.
Prone to gall rust and twig dieback.
C. peregrina – Sweet Fern – This suckering shrub found from Nova Scotia to Georgia grows 2-5′ feet tall and with an indefinite spread. It produces hairless, spreading, rust to gray stems and deeply pinnatifid, linear to lance shaped, softly hairy, light to dark green leaves, 2 ½-5″ long. In summer it bears catkin like, yellow green male flowers, to 1 ½” long and rounded female inflorescences, to 1″ across, followed by a narrowly ellipsoid fruit.
Zones 3-8
