Sensitive Fern Common Name: Sensitive Fern Botanical Name: Onoclea sesibilis Sensitive Fern Plant family: Onocleaceae Location: North Forest Trail Growing zone: 4-8 Height: 3-4′ Spread: 3-4′ Bloom time: Non-Flowering. Bloom description: Non-Flowering. Spores are borne on tall stalks. Most develop in early summer. Stalks are a light green when first developing and fade to brown at maturity and persist through the winter. Spores are then released the following spring. Leaf type: 2-4′ long pinnated fronds are delicate and light green. Given its name due to its fronds being very sensitive to cold, most fronds wither after the first frost and do not return until spring. Garden uses: Sensitive fern prefers shade and well-watered soils. Works well in rain gardens and naturalized gardens due to its wide native range.
