Comptonia peregrina
Comptonia peregrina, commonly known as sweet fern for its fragrant, lustrous, fern-like foliage, is a super hardy shrub for terrible, infertile soils.
Comptonia peregrina, commonly known as sweet fern, is not a fern at all but has fragrant, lustrous, fern-like foliage on a super hardy shrub that loves terrible, infertile soils. It is an Eastern North American native plant 2-4 feet tall that is nitrogen fixing, drought tolerant, and will form colonies. Easily grown in a wide range of soils but difficult to propagate and resentful of transplant, it is uncommon in cultivation. Insignificant yellow flowers in April and May followed by burr-like nutlets. Prefers sandy, acidic loams with medium water.
Common Name: Sweet Fern
Family: Myrsinaceae (The Myrsine Family)
Zone Hardiness: 2-8
Light: Full Sun Part Sun Part Shade
Height: 2-4'
Width: 5-8'
Primary Bloom Colour: Green
Secondary Bloom Colour: Yellow
Class: Deciduous
Type: Shrub
Bloom Time: Late Spring
Soil Moisture: Drought Tolerant, Dry, Average, Moist
Stem Colour:
Fragrance: Yes
Berries:
Benefits:
Deer Resistant: Yes
BC Native: No
Native Habitat: Dry, infertile, sandy or rocky soils in pinelands, pine barrens, clearings, pastures or edges of woods from sea level to 1800 metres in eastern North America.
Award:
Geographical Origin:
