Sweet-fern

Comptonia peregrina

Native to Kentucky (estimated)

Rare or protected plant. Specialist conservation planting; excluded from routine garden suggestions. Plant caution source

Hidden from default planting suggestions. Wildlife value and native status remain unchanged.

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

43CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including KY

Genus host records with ranges including KY · 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
Clepsis persicanaWhite Triangle Tortrix
Coleophora pruniellaCherry Casebearer, Apple Leafmining Casebearer, Western Cigar Casebearer

Show all 43

Crocigrapha normaniNorman's Quaker
Cyclophora pendulinariaSweetfern Geometer
Ectropis crepusculariaThe Small Engrailed, Saddleback Looper
Ennomos magnariaMaple Spanworm Moth, Notchwing Geometer
Euchlaena irrariaLeast-Marked Euchlaena
Iridopsis ephyrariaPale-Winged Gray
Iridopsis humariaSmall Purplish Gray
Iridopsis larvariaBent-Line Gray
Lacinipolia loreaBridled Arches, Bridle Groundcat
Melanchra assimilisBlack Arches
Nemoria bistriariaTwo-Striped Emerald, Red-Fringed Emerald
Nemoria lixariaRed-Bordered Emerald
Nemoria mimosariaWhite-Fringed Emerald
Nemoria rubrifrontariaRed-Fronted Emerald
Orthotaenia undulanaDusky Leafroller
Phiaris glacianaFrosted Olethreutes
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
Synchlora aerataWavy-Lined Emerald, Camouflaged Looper
Tetracis cachexiataWhite Slant-Line
Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformisEvergreen Bagworm Moth
Xanthotype urticariaFalse Crocus Geometer
Xestia c-nigrumSpotted Cut-Worm, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Lesser Black-letter Dart
Xestia dolosaGreater Black-Letter Dart, Greater Spotted Cutworm
Xestia normanianusNorman's Dart
Aroga argutiola
Chionodes imber
Parornix obliterella

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

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “Spring” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Flower color · “Brown/copper, yellow, green or inconspicuous” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Foliage color · “Green” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Fruit begins · “Summer” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Fruit ends · “Fall” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Growth habit · “Spreads by rhizomes” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Growth rate · “Slow” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Hardiness · “Zones 2a–6b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Height · “2–5 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Leaves · “Deciduous” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Life cycle · “Perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Light · “Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial shade (direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil · “Moist; Occasionally dry” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Soil pH · “Acidic” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Spread · “4–8 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox

Also known as

Sweet Fern; Sweet fern

In your garden

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

Choose a county to begin.