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sweet fern | Plant Finder | Fill My Garden

Home/Plants/Shrubs

Plants > Shrubs

sweet fern

Comptonia peregrina

Fragrant

Genus: Comptonia
Family: Myricaceae
Common Names: fern-leaved gale, shrubby sweet fern

About this plant

A small, suckering, deciduous shrub to around 1.5m tall with slender branches that are downy when young. Aromatic, olive-green leaves up to 10cm long are fern-like in appearance and divided into rounded leaflets. In spring, small, brown, male catkins up to 2.5cm long are borne before or as the leaves appear

Growing Information

Height

1.5-2.5 Metres

Spread

1.5-2.5 Metres

Hardiness

Foliage

Deciduous

Growing Conditions

Sunlight

Full SunPartial Shade

Soil

ChalkLoamSandy

AcidNeutral

Not Currently Available

This plant is not currently stocked at any garden centres on our platform.

Moisture

Poorly Drained

Aspect

South FacingWest FacingEast Facing

Exposure

ShelteredExposed

Care Guide

Cultivation

Grow in acidic or neutral, moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. Be aware of its ability to spread rapidly and form large colonies once established and site accordingly

Pruning

Pruning group 1

Propagation

Propagate by root cuttings, layering or from suckers

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

Garden Uses

Uses

Flower BordersGround Cover

Planting Places

GreenhouseOutdoor

Season of Interest

SpringSummerAutumn

Size & Characteristics

Height

1.5-2.5 Metres

Spread

1.5-2.5 Metres

Habit

Bushy

Time to Full Height

Ten To Twenty Years