Quercus

Sweet-fern

Comptonia peregrina

Native to South Carolina (estimated)

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

41CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including SC

Genus host records with ranges including SC · 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 41
  • 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
  • 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 dolosaGreater Black-Letter Dart, Greater Spotted Cutworm
  • Xestia normanianusNorman's Dart
  • Agonopterix atrodorsella
  • Aroga argutiola
  • Chaetaglaea rhonda
  • 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

South Carolina rankNot available
Global rankG5
SC statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

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