Sweet Fern
Comptonia peregrina
Myricaceae
Growth habit
Shrub
Perennation
Long-lived polycarpic perennial
Native distribution
Native to the Finger Lakes Region, E USA
Location
Zucker Shrub Collection, Ringwood Ponds
Source of plant
Western Maine Nurseries, Horticultural Associates
Description
A deciduous, usually monoecious shrub to 2m, often shorter. Stems branching diffusely, glabrous, rust to grey; twigs hirsute at first. Leaves fern-like, aromatic when crushed, alternate on extension shoots or clustered at nodes of older shoots, linear to narrow-lanceolate, 6-12cm, closely pinnatifid, dull green with coarse rusty pubescence, lobes rounded. Male inflorescence catkin-like, to 3.5cm; female inflorescence spherical, to 2.5cm diameter when fruiting. Fruit a nutlet, narrow-ellipsoid.
USDA Hardiness Zone
4
Special characteristics
foliage characteristics, hardiness
Status
L3|S5|G5