Quercus

Sweet-fern

Comptonia peregrina

Native to Georgia (estimated)

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

39CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including GA

Genus host records with ranges including GA · Comptonia

  • Archips argyrospilaFruit-Tree Leafroller Moth
  • Archips georgianaFireworm, Georgia Leafroller
  • Aroga trialbamaculellaRed-Striped Fireworm Moth
  • Automeris ioIo Moth
  • Biston betulariaSalt-and-Pepper Geometer, Cleft-Headed Looper
  • Cepphis armatariaScallop Moth
  • Chlorochlamys chloroleucariaBlackberry Looper Moth
  • Cleora sublunariaDouble-Lined Gray
  • Crocigrapha normaniNorman's Quaker
  • Cyclophora myrtariaWaxmyrtle Wave
Show all 39
  • Cyclophora pendulinariaSweetfern Geometer
  • Ectropis crepusculariaThe Small Engrailed, Saddleback Looper
  • Ennomos magnariaMaple Spanworm Moth, Notchwing Geometer
  • Euchlaena irrariaLeast-Marked Euchlaena
  • Hypomecis buchholzariaX
  • Iridopsis ephyrariaPale-Winged Gray
  • Iridopsis humariaSmall Purplish Gray
  • Iridopsis larvariaBent-Line Gray
  • Lacinipolia loreaBridled Arches, Bridle Groundcat
  • Lithophane tepidaWarm Gray Pinion, White-Eyes Pinion
  • Nemoria bistriariaTwo-Striped Emerald, Red-Fringed Emerald
  • Nemoria lixariaRed-Bordered Emerald
  • Nemoria mimosariaWhite-Fringed Emerald
  • Orthotaenia undulanaDusky Leafroller
  • Prochoerodes lineolaLarge Maple Spanworm Moth
  • Protolampra brunneicollisBrown-Collared Dart
  • Pseudohermonassa bicarneaPink-Spotted Dart
  • Pyrrhia exprimensPurple-Lined Sallow, Purple-Lined Sun Moth
  • Sphinx gordiusApple Sphinx
  • Strepsicrates smithianaBayberry Leaftier
  • Strymon melinusGray Hairstreak
  • Tetracis cachexiataWhite Slant-Line
  • Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformisEvergreen Bagworm Moth
  • Xanthotype urticariaFalse Crocus Geometer
  • Xestia dolosaGreater Black-Letter Dart, Greater Spotted Cutworm
  • Xestia normanianusNorman's Dart
  • Aroga argutiola
  • Chionodes imber
  • Dichomeris bipunctellus
Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
0BeesSoutheastern regional records
0Specialist beesPollen specialists
—BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

No records yet · Ants · Beetles · Flies · Adult butterflies / moths · Other wasps · Other insects

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
Myricaceae
Hardiness
Zones 2a–6b
Soil pH
Acidic
Flower color
Brown/copper, yellow, green or inconspicuous
Growth rate
Slow
Growth habit
Spreads by rhizomes
Foliage color
Green
Fruit begins
Summer
Fruit ends
Fall

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope
Also known as

Sweet Fern; Sweet fern

Conservation status

Georgia rankNot available
Global rankG5
GA statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

In your garden

Will it fit your spot?

Check this plant against your county, sun and soil moisture. Conditions are checked in your browser.

Choose a county to begin.

How to check your spot

Sources