The Sensitive Fern earns its name from its sensitivity to frost — the delicate fronds blacken at the first hint of cold. It is easily identified by its broad, deeply lobed fronds and unusual fertile fronds that look like strings of dark beads persisting through winter. It spreads aggressively through underground rhizomes in wet habitats and is a common colonizer of disturbed moist soils.
Best time to see a Sensitive Fern
The best time to see a Sensitive Fern is April–July, when about 70% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 82,609 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
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Recent Sensitive Fern sightings near you
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