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Ferns

Osmunda regalis 'Purpurascens'

royal fern 'Purpurascens'

Osmunda regalis 'Purpurascens' displays magnificent red / purple new fronds which gradually revert to green through the season. The red / purple colour persists on the stems. Erect bipinnate fronds often showing smaller finer divided leaflets and wider spaced pinnules than displayed on O. regalis.

Synonyms

Osmunda grandiceps 'Purpurascens'

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Ultimate height

1–1.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

5–10 years

Ultimate spread

0.5–1 metres

Clay

Loam

Moisture

Poorly–drained, Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Partial shade

Aspect

North–facing or East–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Osmundaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Tufted
Genus: Osmunda are medium-sized to large deciduous ferns, usually from wet places, with erect or arching, pinnate or bipinnate fronds, bearing spores either on modified pinnae or on separate, smaller fronds
Name status: Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Best grown in moist soils in partial shade. For more information see our advice page how to grow ferns.

Propagation

Propagate by division in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Architectural
Cottage and informal garden
Low Maintenance
Underplanting of roses and shrubs

Pruning

Dead or damaged fronds can be removed as necessary

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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