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Tried and True Native Plant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic
One of North America’s largest native ferns is frequent to common in moist woods through much of the Mid-Atlantic Region. Previously known as Osmunda regalis (as well as Osmunda regalis L. var. spectabilis), its unique fronds are cut into rounded leaflets. Another common name “flowering fern” refers to its tassel-like fertile clusters.
Did you know that this showy (spectabilis) fern has separate sterile and fertile fronds, and the fertile ones are beaded with tightly clustered sporangia?
Learn more about Osmunda spectabilis (Royal Fern) and about sporangium…