Osmunda cinnamomea, commonly called Cinnamon Fern, is a perennial nicknamed for the cinnamon-shaded fertile fronds that emerge from her center in spring.
First, though,
edible fiddleheads surface from the center of a symmetric
clump and stretch out into large, erect,
pinnate-compounded, lemony-green sterile fronds stretching 2-4 feet long. In autumn, these fade to yellow then turn a topaz-brown before dying back in winter. Then, the fertile fronds emerge from the fern's center standing above the vase-like cluster of sterile fronds. At first green, they soon turn the spicy cinnamon shade for which she is famous, resulting in wonderful explosions of color.
Fertile fronds are covered with abundant masses of brownish
sporangia that die back after shedding their
spores in late summer. All of this ultimately results in wonderful texture and visual interest amidst any garden.
Cinnamon ferns yield delightful beauty as
borders, or because they actually require
moist soil, as edgings for ponds and streams. Grown in mass, their rusty-hued fronds create a feeling of flames in springtime, and as an accent, a clump of Cinnamon fern adds a lush, tropical feeling, particularly in
shaded areas.
Winter
dormant, these ferns have a
slow to
moderate growth rate, are some of the few groundcovers that will grow
under walnut trees and deter
deer, attributes for which they are prized. Ultimately, the Cinnamon Fern is an extra hardy, highly versatile, moisture loving perennial that offers constant growth interest as well as shimmering shades of shifting colors.
Things to Note This plant is available for
20% off when purchased with Japanese Painted Ferns (Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum').
Interesting Facts Edible fiddleheads are considered a delicacy and have been named Vermont's state vegetable. Try cooking these delightful vegetables by simply harvesting when about two inches from the ground and still tightly rolled. Treat them as you would asparagus or try them in quiches and soups. Delicious!
The latent buds of the Cinnamon Fern rival chestnuts in size and flavor!
Fronds can be killed by fire, but they re-sprout from
rhizomes. Because of this, Cinnamon Ferns have good
fire tolerance, often showing vigorous rhizome growth after the fact.
Gardener Tips If you have a water feature, you will want to strongly consider this fern as one of its most stunning applications is planted by a pond where its reflection, in vivid green, is breathtaking.
Please read about bare root plants (especially the paragraph about bare root grasses) so you know what to expect. 
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Part sun 
Shade