Comptonia peregrina

Sweet Fern

Sweet Fern

Common Name: Sweet Fern

Comptonia peregrina, commonly called Sweetfern, is an upright, deciduous shrub featuring deeply notched, olive to dark green leaves to 4" long. Native shrub of eastern North America, most often occurring in poor, sandy or gravelly, infertile soils, such as roadsides. Fixes its own nitrogen. Foliage is aromatic and resembles that of ferns, hence the common name of Sweetfern. An excellent plant for stabilizing slopes or embankments. Tolerates wet and drought conditions.

Comptonia is native to the Eastern United States, but it is well adapted to almost the entire country. This vigorous, rounded, colony forming
non-invasive deciduous shrub has very fresh, sweet, aromatic foliage. Prefers sandy or gritty, acidic soil, but will tolerate practically any soil
type that is reasonably drained. It requires full sun to partial shade, grows to 4–8 feet wide by 2–5 feet tall, and is hardy in zones 2a–8b.

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