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Onocleaceae
Onoclea

not marked as a favorite taxon Onoclea sensibilis Linnaeus. Common name: Sensitive Fern, Bead Fern. Phenology: May-Jun. Habitat: Marshes, swamps, bottomland forests, ditches, wet disturbed places. Distribution: Newfoundland and Labrador (Newfoundland) west to Minnesota and Colorado, south to Florida and Texas. O. interrupta of e. Asia is sometimes treated as a variety or included in O. sensibilis without taxonomic recognition (see synonymy).

Glossary (beta!)

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Taxonomy Comments: Two taxa of Onoclea, one in e. North America and one in e. Asia, should be recognized (Gastony & Ungerer 1997); the appropriate rank is not agreed on, though Gastony & Ungerer (1997) demonstrated a similar level of distinction as various disjunct sibling pairs in other fern genera. Zhao et al. (2025) preferred varietal rank. The long-range disjunction argues for species rank.

Other Comments: The specific epithet and common name refer to the fact that the fronds wither at the first touch of frost, not that they respond to touch. The peculiar fertile leaves (with their brown, beadlike, fertile pinnules) are collected for use in dried arrangements.

Synonymy ⓘ: = AqW, NS, Gastony & Ungerer (1997); = Onoclea sensibilis L. var. sensibilis — NSProv, POWO, TxFerns, Va, Lloyd (1971), Zhao et al (2025); < Onoclea sensibilis L. — Ar, C, Can, ETx1, F, Fl1, FNA2, G, GrPl, Il, K1, K4, Mo1, NE, NY, Pa, RAB, S13, Sf, Tat, Tx, W, WH3, WV, ZA, Lin et al (2013). Basionym: Onoclea sensibilis L. 1753

Links to other floras: < Onoclea sensibilis - FNA2

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACW
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACW
  • Great Plains: FACW
  • Midwest: FACW
  • Northcentral & Northeast: FACW

Heliophily ⓘ: 5

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image #1 of Onoclea sensibilis© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
image #2 of Onoclea sensibilis© Emily Oglesby | Original Image ⭷
image #3 of Onoclea sensibilis© Emily Oglesby | Original Image ⭷
image #4 of Onoclea sensibilis© Emily Oglesby | Original Image ⭷
image #5 of Onoclea sensibilis© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image #6 of Onoclea sensibilis© Radford, Ahles and Bell | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

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Height: 1-2 ft.

plant sale text: Sensitive fern makes an excellent groundcover, spreading readily by means of its rhizomes. It looks its best in an area that stays consistently moist. It is one of the easiest ferns to grow. Plant where spreading will be an asset rather than a problem. Commonly found growing in marshes, ditches and swamps, it will tolerate more sunlight if planted in soil that stays wet. Can provide shelter for frogs and salamanders. The genus Onoclea supports up to 3 species of lepidoptera.

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native range: e. N. America & e. Asia