Description
Onoclea – Sensitive Fern –
There is a sole species of a deciduous, terrestrial fern in this genus. It occurs in damp sites in Eastern Asia and Eastern North America. In spring, long stalked, pinnate or deeply pinnatisect sterile fronds are produced singly at short intervals from creeping rhizomes, dying down at the first frost. The fertile fronds are 2 pinnate, with contracted, bead-like black segments that curl in to cover the sori, and produced in late summer, persisting throughout winter. O. sensibils will thrive at the edge of water, or in a damp, shady border.
Grow in a sheltered site, in moist, fertile, humus rich, preferably acidic soil, in light, dappled shade the fronds will scorch if exposed to much sun. Divide in fall.
Prone to rust.
O. sensibilis – This quick growing, deciduous, water loving fern, from Eastern Asia and Eastern North America grows to 24″ tall with an indefinite spread. It produces upright then arching, broadly lance shaped or triangular, pinnate to deeply pinnatisect, pale green sterile fronds, to 18″ long, in spring, these each have 8-12 pairs of pinnaae, which are lobed to wavy edged or smooth edged.. Fertile fronds are produced in late summer, and are stiffly erect, lance shaped, and 2 pinnate, to 24″ long, the pinnae are reduced to bead like black lobes that enclose the sori. The emerging fronds may be pinkish bronze in spring.
Zones 4-9
