Sensitive Fern

Onoclea sensibilis

$39⁹⁹

In Stock
Stay Protected with Plant Sentry ™

Plant Size

#1 Container

Product variants

Plant Sentry™

Delivery and Shipping

Understanding Plant Options

Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:

Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements

Container Plant Sizes

Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.

Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
2" x 2" x 3"	0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts	0.20 - 0.23 dry liters
4" Container	0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts	0.35 - 0.96 dry liters
4.5" Container	0.65 dry quarts	0.72 dry liters
6" Container	1.4 dry quarts	1.59 dry liters
1 Quart	1 dry quart	1.1 dry liters
5.5" Container	1.89 dry quarts	2.08 dry liters

Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
2 Quart	2 dry quarts	2.2 dry liters
#1 Container	2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts	2.49 - 4.11 dry liters
5" x 5" x 12"	3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts	3.85 - 4.74 dry liters

Mature Plants (2-4 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
#2 Container	1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons	5.24 - 7.75 dry liters
#3 Container	2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons	8.14 - 12.16 dry liters

Large Plants (3-5 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
#5 Container	2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons	12.86 - 20.35 dry liters
#6 Container	5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons	23.12 - 26.42 dry liters
#7 Container	5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons	26.34 - 28.76 dry liters

Bare Root Plants

Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.

Common Sizes:

Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet

Important Notes

Container Volume Specifications

Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents

Growing Conditions

Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment

Seasonal Availability

Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
Container plants are available throughout the growing season
Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes

Questions?

For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.

Plant Highlights

Sensitive Fern highlights at a glance!

Specifications

Brand

American Beauties
Botanical Name

Onoclea sensibilis
Growing Zones

4 - 8
Mature Height

3 - 4 Feet
Mature Spread

3 - 4 Feet
Sun Exposure

Full Shade, Partial Shade
Moisture

Medium to High
Soil

Well Drained Soil
Growth Rate

Medium
Pruning Time

Early Spring

Growing Zones

Find Your Growing Zone!

Sensitive Fern - Moving Moisture-Loving Lace!

The lacy Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis) is a lush, low-maintenance groundcover! This striking native Fern is known for its broad, vibrant green fronds and unique texture. Perfect for shady, moist areas, this fast-spreading perennial thrives in naturalized settings, offering a lush, woodland feel.

Its name comes from its sensitivity to frost, as the fronds wither with the first touch of cold. Despite this, its hardy underground rhizomes ensure it bounces back stronger each spring.

Key Features

Foliage: Broad, lobed green fronds
Mature Height: 3-4 feet tall and wide
Light Requirements: Partial shade to full shade
Soil: Moist to wet, rich well-drained soil
Hardiness Zones: USDA zones 4–8
Native Plant: Ideal for naturalistic and woodland gardens
Low Maintenance: Tolerates wet soil and requires minimal care

Landscaping With Sensitive Fern

The Sensitive Fern is perfect for woodland gardens, rain gardens, and moist, shady areas! Its ability to thrive in wet conditions makes it an excellent ground cover for pond edges, stream banks, and low-lying garden beds. Its bold, coarse-textured fronds create a stunning contrast with finer-leaved shade plants like hostas and astilbes.

Woodland and naturalized shade gardens
Rain Gardens
Groundcover for damp areas
Pond and stream edges
Politely spreading, easy mass plantings and drifts!

Fern Care & Maintenance

Ferns are unique plants with a curious lifecycle. Caring for Sensitive Fern is easy, making it a great choice for gardeners looking for a low-maintenance perennial plant.

Soil: Prefers consistently moist, rich, and well-drained soil
Water: Keep soil wet or consistently moist, especially in dry periods
Light: Partial to full shade for best growth
Spacing: Space plants 2 to 3 feet apart to allow for natural spreading
Pruning: Remove dead fronds in early spring to encourage fresh growth

Moving Moisture-Loving & Lacy Native!

Sensitive Fern is a versatile and hardy ground cover that brings lush, bold texture to shady garden areas. Whether you're filling in wet spots or creating a woodland retreat, this native fern is a reliable, attractive choice that requires little effort but delivers big impact.