Sweet Fern

Comptonia peregrina

Sweet Fern, Comptonia peregrina, is not a fern but a low-growing shrub and member of the Bay (Laurel) family of plants. The fern-like leaves give off a pleasant fragrance when crushed. Sweet Fern grows well in sandy soils, from well-drained dry sites to the edges of marshes …

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Plants 4" Pots
1-4 $9.99 ea.
5-10 $8.99 ea.
11-31 $7.99 ea.
32+ $6.99 ea.
Availability: In stock
SKU
70210-04
Cultural Details
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil Moisture Dry, Medium, Moist
Sun Exposure Full Sun, Partial
Height 2' - 5'
Bloom Color Green, Yellow
Bloom Time Apr, May, June
Spacing 3'
Zones 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Root Type Rhizome
Benefits Host Plant, Deer Resistant

Sweet Fern, Comptonia peregrina, is not a fern but a low-growing shrub and member of the Bay (Laurel) family of plants. The fern-like leaves give off a pleasant fragrance when crushed. Sweet Fern grows well in sandy soils, from well-drained dry sites to the edges of marshes. It tolerates moisture well but will not tolerate clay sites. In favorable conditions Sweet Fern will spread easily and form colony. A good choice for erosion control on an embankment, massing along the foundation of a building, or along a driveway. Sweet Fern is a larval host plant for numerous moths including the Sweetfern Underwing moth (Catocala antinympha), as well as the Gray Hairstreak butterfy (Strymon melinus) in northern parts of its range.