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Comptonia peregrina

Sweet Fern

Features include narrow, deeply notched, dark green, fern-like, aromatic foliage and a greenish-brown, edible nutlet. This upright shrub is not a fern, despite its common name.

  • »  Despite its name, it is not a fern, but actually a deciduous shrub
  • »  Insignificant greenish flowers, both male and female on the same plant
  • »  Brown burrs contain edible nutlets
  • »  Medium-green leaves, resembling fern fronds, are brown in the fall
  • »  Mounding shrub, spreading by rhizomes
  • »  Bloom Time: Early summer

1gal
$44.69
2gal
$54.44
Currently Not Available
  • Category:Shrubs
  • Hardiness Zone:2
  • Height:30-90 cm
  • Spread:30-150 cm
  • Bloom Color: Green
Exposure
• Full Sun
• Partial Sun/Shade
Soil Moisture
• Average to Dry Soils
• Well-drained
Attracts Wildlife
• Attracts Butterflies
Growth Rate
• Medium
Critter
• Deer Resistant
Attributes
• Deciduous
• Edible
• Drought Tolerant
• Fragrant
• Salt Tolerant
Flowering Time
• Lt. Spr-Sum
Habit
• Mounding
• Spreading
Foliage Color
• Green
Landscape uses
• Naturalizing
• Woodland/woods edge
Planting instructions
• Container Plants
Additional Information about Comptonia peregrina

Native to Ontario

Comptonia serves as a host plant for some species of butterflies and moths. Leaves have a pleasant fragrance, especially when crushed.

Growing & Maintenance Tips for Comptonia peregrina

Although not a legume, comptonia is a nitrogen fixer. Grows best in full sun, tolerating some shade and thrives in dry, slightly acidic, sandy soil,  withstanding  poor, even salty soils. If given room, it will colonize (spreading by rhizomes). It is deer resistant.