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Royal Fern

About Royal Fern

Osmunda regalis is a tall, deciduous fern. It usually occurs on moist bluffs and ledges and along streams. It is best grown in medium to wet soils in part shade. It prefers moist, rich, humusy, acidic soils and cool summer climates.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Osmunda regalis

Genus

Osmunda

Family

Osmundaceae

Order

Osmundales

Also known as

Flowering fern

How to care for Royal Fern

💦 Water

How often to water your Royal Fern

Royal Fern needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Royal Fern in your home

Royal Fern love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Royal Fern does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Royal Fern in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Royal Fern

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Royal Fern: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Royal Fern after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Royal Fern is generally considered an easy-to-care-for plant and makes a great choice for beginners!

How to Grow Royal Fern →

Benefits of Growing Royal Fern →

Common Royal Fern Problems →

Outdoor Care Guide for Royal Fern →

💦 Water Needs

Royal Fern prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Royal Fern Water Frequency →

Royal Fern Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Royal Fern requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Royal Fern Light Requirements →

Royal Fern Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Royal Fern is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

Is Royal Fern Edible? →

Royal Fern Toxicity to Cats →

Royal Fern Toxicity to Dogs →

Royal Fern Toxicity to Humans →

🪴 Soil

Royal Fern does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Royal Fern →

Best Pots for Royal Fern →

When and How to Successfully Repot Royal Fern →

What Are Healthy Royal Fern Roots →

💩 Fertilizer

Royal Fern should be repotted after it doubles in size or once a year, whichever comes first. Fresh potting soil has all the nutrients your plant needs, so as long as it’s refreshed yearly, you shouldn’t need to use fertilizer. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

How Much and When to Fertilize Royal Fern →

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Royal Fern grows vertically and new growth will emerge from the top of the plant.

Royal Fern Lifecycle →

Royal Fern Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Royal Fern →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Royal Fern can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 3a-9b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Royal Fern Temperature Tolerance →

Royal Fern Hardiness Zones →

Landscaping Ideas with Royal Fern →

When to Plant Royal Fern →

How to Plant Royal Fern →

Where to Plant Royal Fern →

Winter Care for Royal Fern →

Best Companion Plants for Royal Fern →

Is Royal Fern a Weed? →

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Royal Fern, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.