Osmundastrum cinnamomeum

Cinnamon Fern (Osmundastrum cinnamomeum) is a perennial, deciduous fern that can reach up to 6 feet tall, with fronds arising in groups from a shallow, black rootstock. Its fertile fronds emerge first as silvery, furry fiddleheads and mature into upright, cinnamon-colored spore spikes, while the sterile fronds arch outward to form a vase-like shape. Cinnamon Fern thrives in moist to wet, acidic soils and can tolerate full sun only if it is in standing water; otherwise, it requires at least partial shade and consistently moist conditions. It is well-suited for boggy areas, pond edges, or water gardens, and its fuzzy fiddleheads are a favorite nesting material for birds.

Native range

Eastern North AmericaNative here

Bloom time

May – June

Garden location

Northwest Shade Bed