Royal Ferns are a widely distributed species throughout temperate and subtropical regions the world over. They live up to their common name when growing in rich, wet soils in full sun, looking both regal and spectacular! They are strongly clump-forming and due to their size, they can even have a shrub-like appearance when well-established in ideal conditions. This species is sometimes referred to as the “Flowering Fern” because of the plume-like, bronzy fertile frond which resembles the inflorescence of some flowering plants. The fibrous roots of this species are the source of Osmunda fiber, which is used in commercial potting mixes for orchids. Sources: Native Ferns, Moss, & Grasses by William Cullina Growing and Propagating Wild Flowers by Harry R. Phillips Missouri Botanical Garden Photo Credit: Integrated Landscape: R. A. Nonenmacher, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
