Oreopteris limbosperma
lemon-scented fern
Europe, temperate Asia, North America
Overview
Oreopteris limbosperma is a deciduous fern forming a shuttlecock-like crown of fronds 12-48 inches (30-120 cm) tall from a stout, ascending rhizome. The lance-shaped fronds taper at both ends, narrowing markedly toward the base where the lowest leaflets shrink to small lobes. The undersides carry tiny yellow resinous glands that release a lemon scent when the frond is bruised, giving the plant its common name. Spore cases sit in a row near the margins of the leaflet undersides. It grows on damp, acid soils on hill slopes, stream banks, and in open woodland and moorland across Europe, into Asia and North America. The fern spreads slowly to form colonies and dies back to the rhizome each winter, sending up fresh fronds in spring. It favours cool, humid ground and shrinks back on dry or limy soils. The fronds are soft and pale green, turning yellow before they collapse in autumn. Its tapered frond base and lemon-scented glands separate it from the similar lady fern Athyrium filix-femina and the buckler ferns Dryopteris spp., which lack the scent.
Native Range
Native to Europe, temperate Asia, and parts of North America. It grows on damp, acid soils in upland woodland, on stream banks, and across moorland.Suggested Uses
Grown in damp woodland gardens, on shaded stream banks, and in bog and moorland-style plantings on acid soil. It is used among other ferns and moisture-loving perennials. Its tapered fronds suit naturalistic, informal schemes.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 4'
Width/Spread1'6" - 3'
Bloom Information
Ferns do not flower. Spores ripen in the spore cases along the leaflet margins from July to September and are released as dust-like spores carried on the wind. New fronds unfurl from the crown in spring.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
pale greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 2-6 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Oreopteris limbosperma grows in moist, humus-rich, acid soils in partial shade to full sun where the ground stays damp. It tolerates a soil pH from about 4.0 to 6.0 and declines on dry or chalky ground. The fern is hardy to USDA zone 4 and dies back to the rhizome over winter. It spreads slowly into open colonies and needs steady moisture through the growing season. Old fronds can be cleared in late winter before new growth unfurls. It is propagated by spores or by division of established crowns in spring.Pruning
No routine pruning is needed. Faded fronds can be cut away in late winter or early spring before the new crosiers unfurl. The dead fronds also give some frost cover to the crown over winter.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 3 gallons