Quick answer: Interrupted fern (Osmunda claytoniana) is native to 29 states. What's commonly sold under this name is the true wild species. No live listing of the true species was found as of 16 Sep 2026.
Photo: rockerBOO, Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA-2.0)
Where it's native
Listed in the directory as native to these states. Click a state for its full native-plant guide.
Growing conditions
From the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Native Plant Database.
| Sun | Shade |
|---|---|
| Water | High |
| Soil | Moist to dry, acid to neutral |
| Bloom | Non-flowering (spore-bearing) |
| Height | Up to 6 ft |
| Wildlife value | Not recorded in the wildflower.org profile |
Buying it
No live listing of the true wild species was found as of 16 Sep 2026 — that means our last search didn't surface one, not that the plant is unavailable.
No live seed or plant listing found as of 16 Sep 2026. That means our last search didn't surface one — not that the plant is unavailable. Try a regional native-plant nursery.
Quick answers about Interrupted fern
Where is Interrupted fern native?
Interrupted fern (Osmunda claytoniana) is native to 29 states across the Northeast, Midwest and South. Check your state's page in this directory for the full list of plants native where you live.
When does Interrupted fern bloom?
Interrupted fern blooms Non-flowering (spore-bearing). Exact timing shifts a few weeks with latitude and elevation.
What growing conditions does Interrupted fern need?
Light: Shade. Water: High. Soil: Moist to dry, acid to neutral. Mature height: Up to 6 ft.
Is Interrupted fern deer-resistant or drought-tolerant?
Interrupted fern is deer-resistant and tolerates shade.
Where can I buy Interrupted fern?
We haven't found an online listing of the true wild species as of 16 Sep 2026. A regional native-plant nursery or native seed company is your best source; ask for Osmunda claytoniana by its scientific name.
Similar native plants
Native plants that share growing conditions or range with Interrupted fern.
- Cinnamon fern Osmunda cinnamomea
- Sweet Joe-Pye Eutrochium purpureum
- Eastern hay-scented fern Dennstaedtia punctilobula
- Christmas fern Polystichum acrostichoides
- Canadian wild ginger Asarum canadense
- Sensitive fern Onoclea sensibilis
Also listed under
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