Osmunda claytoniana - Fern

The Clayton's Royal Fern (Osmunda claytoniana) is a large deciduous fern, particularly robust, which bears large light green fronds. It is a majestic plant that thrives in moist soil.

Native to North America and the Far East, it belongs to the family of Osmundaceae. The Clayton's Royal Fern is distinguished by its wide pale green leaflets as well as its sporangia, whose colour changes over time, ranging from blackish to yellow-green, then ending in rusty brown and disappearing.

Very hardy, it forms a stump with a very spreading crown that can easily reach 90cm (35in) in height and 60cm (24in) in width. This deciduous fern is both early and late: it is one of the first to unfurl its beautiful fronds in spring and remains unaffected by the first frosts. Its presence in the garden therefore extends over a long period.

The Clayton's Royal Fern tolerates almost all exposures: from deep shade to full sun, provided that the soil remains moist. It is known for its robustness, a quality that more than compensates for its relatively slow establishment.

It is a very easy plant to grow that you can plant in moist, humus-bearing soil with little limestone. It is essential in woodland settings, along with the Hart's Tongue Fern, Solomon's Seals, the Wood Anemone, or even with Hellebores.