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 …
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.
Native plants can be grown outside of their native range in the appropriate growing conditions. This map shows the native range, as well as the introduced range, of this species.
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Sweet Fern has a moderate to slow growth rate. A mature height of around 3 – 4 feet may be reached in 4 years. Once established it will spread by rhizomes (short stolons) to form a colony - about 3 feet from the original plant over the course of a few years.
Are sweet ferns tolerant of juglone?
Thanks for the question Lisa. Sweet Fern (Componia peregrina) is Not known to be juglone tolerant.
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