Sweet Fern
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 …
| 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' |
| Hardiness 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.
