Osmunda regalis
"Royal fern"
Orders placed before 1 March 2025
You can expect your order in February/March 2025
Orders placed 1 March - 15 April 2025
You can expect your order in March/April 2025
Orders placed 16 April - 15 May 2025
You can expect your order within 10 business days
UK orders over £50
Free shipping
UK orders under £50
£4.99
Northern Ireland orders under £50
£5.99
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Description
Surround yourself with a cool forest of ferny foliage using this big and lush Osmunda regalis. Also known as royal fern, it’s certainly majestic—a whopper reaching heights of over 2m at maturity. Fuzzy, pale copper shoots emerge in spring, colouring fresh green in summer. Fronds are tipped with pinnae filled with chestnut-brown spores, giving the appearance of feathery flowerheads from a distance. As summer ends, the elegant Osmunda regalis transitions through shades of gold, orange and bronze, bringing a toasty late season colour hit.
This goliath fern is the largest European species, demanding plenty of space to reach its full potential. Given a shaded spot on reliably moist soil, it makes an impressive statement plant for natural planting schemes and bog gardens. In sunny locations, Osmunda regalis copes well, providing the soil remains damp during the driest weather. Try positioning it at a pond’s edge where it can be admired across open water to dramatic effect.
Ferns exist for about 360 million years, but 80% of living fern diversity did not appear until mid-Cretaceous, about 130 million years ago.
Key features
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Comes back every year
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Loved by pollinators
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Great for shade
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In peat-free compost
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Low maintenance
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RHS Award (AGM)
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Fully hardy
Specs & details
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Botanical name
Osmunda regalis
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Plant size
1
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Established height
70cm-1m
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Established spread
30-50cm
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Plant spacing
5 plants per m2
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Leaf colour
Green
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Habit
Upright
Clump-forming -
Life cycle
Perennial
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Hardiness
Fully hardy
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Years to establish
2-3 years
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Sunlight
Full shade
Partial shade
Dappled shade -
Position
Sheltered
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Suitable for
Large containers
Borders
Cottage gardens
Low maintenance gardens
Pots -
Soil acidity
Any
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Soil moisture
Damp
Free draining -
Soil type
Loam
Clay
Loam-based compost
Sandy -
Growing skill
Easy to grow
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Scented
No
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Pollinator-friendly
Yes
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Mouse resistant
No
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Rabbit resistant
Yes
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Deer resistant
Yes
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Toxicity
No report
Plant calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | July | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- Planting
- Flowering
Useful information
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Soak your Osmunda regalis roots in water for 3-6 hours prior to planting.
Plant your "Royal fern" bare roots into temporary pots with a multipurpose compost in spring and grow-on in a sheltered spot outdoors.
Choose a pot which comfortably fits the bare roots. Some have a noticeable crown which should be just below the soil surface with any top growth exposed.
Plant out into borders or permanent containers in late spring or early summer once in full growth. Choose a position in sun or shade depending on the variety.
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Orders placed before 1 March 2025
You can expect your order in Feb/March 2025Orders placed 1 March - 15 April 2025
You can expect your order in April 2025Orders placed 16 April - 15 May 2025
You can expect your order within 10 business days
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