comptonia peregrina

Commonly called 'Sweet Fern' is an upright, deciduous shrub and not a fern at Features simple, multi stems of narrow, lustrous, branches of olive-green leaves. The edges of which have rolled back edges and rounded which gives it a fern look.  Flowers are yellowish green which appear in spring and then give way to brown catkins that appear before the leaves unfold. A small nut is enclosed in a bur-like husk.

Its leaves that give off a pleasant fragrance when crushed. 'Sweet Fern' can naturalize so give it some room! An important larval host plant for a wide variety of moths including the Io moth, and several sphinx moth species, it is also a host plant for the Gray Hairstreak butterfly.

It can even grow in sheltered seaside locations. Prefers sandy acidic soils, well-drained, in full sun to part. It does not transplant well so choose a location carefully. This would make a good choice for stabilizing slopes or embankments.

Arrives to you in a 2 gallon pot.