Ontario Ferns website

Sensitive Fern
Onoclea sensibilis

Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis) Other common names: Bead Fern

French names: Onoclée sensible

Family: Wood Fern Family (Dryopteridaceae)

Fronds: Once divided

Height: 60-90 cm (23-35 in)

Habitat: Forests, Fields and Open Areas, Wet Areas;  Wet woods.

Native/Non-native: Native

Status: Very common.

Notes: Fertile stalk persists throught the winter.

Photographs: 166 photographs available, of which 15 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.

Range Map is at the bottom of the page

Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis)

Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis)

Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis)

Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis)

Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis)

Typical Sensitive Fern habitat.

Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis)

Here you can see where it got its other common name, Bead Fern.

Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis)

Sensitive Fern is very photogenic in the rain!

Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis)

Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis)

Spring shoots unfurling.

Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis)

Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis)

Singing about the virtues of Sensitive Fern and wetlands ... Okay, okay, I'm letting my imagination run wild!

Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis)

The sori.

Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis)

Later in the season they turn dark.

Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis)

Sensitive Fern fronds after a frost.

Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis)

In the winter.


Range map for Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis)

PLEASE NOTE: A coloured Province or State means this species occurs somewhere in that Province/State.
The entire Province/State is coloured, regardless of where in that Province/State it occurs.

(Range map provided courtesy of the USDA website and is displayed here in accordance with their Policies)