How to Grow Cinnamon Fern

Osmundastrum cinnamomeum · Zones Data not available

Cinnamon Fern is a perennial grown for its blooms, which open in summer and return year after year. Notably, it shrugs off deer.

Zones

Data not available

pH Range

4.5-6.9

Sun

Shade

Days to Maturity

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USDA PLANTS DatabaseUSDA PHZM 2023ASPCA

What Cinnamon Fern is

Cinnamon Fern grows as a perennial and reaches around four feet at maturity. It blooms in summer. It's also deer-resistant.

How to grow Cinnamon Fern

Cinnamon Fern does best in shade — at least 2 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 4.5 to 6.9, on consistently moist ground.

USDA Zones

Data not available

USDA PHZM 2023

Soil pH

4.5 - 6.9

USDA PLANTS Database

Sun

Shade

plant_species_v5.csv

Drainage

poorly (saturated >50% of year)

plant_species_v5.csv

Mature Height

4 ft

plant_species_v5.csv

  1. Start the season right

    Plant cinnamon fern in shade with at least 2 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.

  2. Match the soil

    Cinnamon Fern prefers pH 4.5 to 6.9 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.

  3. Water steadily

    Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. Match watering to the plant's drainage preference and your local rainfall.

  4. Harvest at its peak

    Cut cinnamon fern blooms in the cool of the morning, just as they open, for the longest display.

Good to know

Good news for pet owners — cinnamon fern isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)

Cinnamon Fern isn't classified as a notable pollinator plant in our data — pair it with high-value bloomers nearby to feed bees.

Where Cinnamon Fern thrives

Whether cinnamon fern thrives on a given site comes down to its soil pH, drainage, sun, and frost dates — the conditions that vary parcel to parcel.

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See if Cinnamon Fern will thrive on your land

Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether cinnamon fern actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.

Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:

Your soil pHYour frost-free daysYour sun & shade

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I grow Cinnamon Fern in my zone?

Zone data for cinnamon fern is being finalized. A Growable Ground report checks your parcel's full suitability against federal soil, climate, and zone data.

When should you plant Cinnamon Fern?

Most growers plant cinnamon fern after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.

How much sun does Cinnamon Fern need?

Cinnamon Fern is shade-tolerant — it gets by on as little as 2 hours of direct sun, so it earns a place most vegetables can't use. A north-facing strip or the ground under a leafy canopy is right where it belongs. A Growable Ground report shows which corners of your land stay shaded through the day, turning those dim spots into planting spots.

What soil does Cinnamon Fern need?

Cinnamon Fern prefers soil pH 4.5 to 6.9, on consistently moist ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.

Does Cinnamon Fern attract pollinators?

Cinnamon Fern isn't classified as a notable pollinator plant in our data. Pairing it with high-value bloomers nearby keeps bees and butterflies fed.

Is Cinnamon Fern safe for pets?

Cinnamon Fern is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.