Photos and text by Lauren Kurtz
Sweetfern (Comptonia peregrina) is a native shrub which is underutilized in managed landscapes. It thrives in the nutrient poor, acidic, and dry soils common in cities and towns in the Northeast. While the plant does not have a showy display of brightly colored flowers to attract pollinators, sweetfern does serve as a host plant for 49 lepidoptera species in its native range. As you walk by this plant or touch the leaves, there is a notable spicy sweet fragrance reminiscent of Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, which adds a wonderful sensory component to the landscape. The fernlike, deeply lobed leaves add great visual interest and some whimsy to the garden. The commercial availability is increasing at nurseries around New England, and so should its use in managed landscapes
Physical attributes and characteristics
Sweetfern belongs to a monotypic genus; there is only one plant species in the genus Comptonia. It was previously grouped in the genus Liquidambar due to its resemblance to the spiny fruiting structures and fragrant foliage of the sweetgums. After genetic analysis and taxonomic reclassification, it resides in the family Myricaceae, along with the bayberries (Morella spp.) and sweetgales (Myrica spp.).
This deciduous, woody shrub can get 2 to 4 feet tall and spread 2 to 5 feet wide. It is not a single specimen shrub but rather spreads through rhizomes to form colonies. The leaves are simple, narrow, deeply lobed, almost zigzags, and are lustrous green. The name sweetfern is due to the resemblance of the fern-like foliage and its slightly sweet, herbal fragrance. The plant’s tissues are high in terpenes, giving rise to the pleasant aroma of the foliage. Flowers, fruits, leaves, and buds can be used as an herbal remedy to make teas, tinctures, poultices, and essential oils.
Habitat preferences
Sweetfern is native to the eastern United States and Canada and is hardy in USDA zones 2-6. In the wild, it is found in openings in the forest, disturbed areas, and pine barrens and along roadsides and sheltered seashores. This plant fixes nitrogen and will flourish in nutrient poor soils. It prefers full sun to part shade, favors well drained areas and can tolerate drought, salt, and gravely or sandy soils. Sweetfern will not do well in areas with heavy clay or overly saturated soil.
Challenges
Sweetfern may not do well in amended garden soil. It is not the best choice for damp or soils with a higher clay content. It will spread through rhizomes when planted under the right conditions; therefore, it is not the best choice for a highly manicured garden bed where spreading will be undesirable. There are reports of it being difficult to transplant from field grown and containerized stock.
Use in the landscape
Sweetfern does not always transplant well, but once established it is surely a winner in the landscape. Use this plant where other plants may not do well because of poor or dry soil, including for slope stabilization and at reclamation sites. Use sweetfern in roadside plantings, parking lots, and hell strips where its salt tolerance will come in handy. It is great in a sensory or children’s garden where passersby can smell the fragrant foliage and enjoy the look of the shaggy, feathery leaves. This plant is great for a naturalized garden or woodland edge where it can spread freely. Companion plants include bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi), New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus), bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera), northern bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica), Virginia rose (Rosa virginiana), little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), and blueberry species (Vaccinium spp.)
Lauren Kurtz is a plant scientist and horticulturist specializing in invasive species management, ecological landscaping, and science communication. She holds a doctorate in Plant Science from the University of Connecticut. Lauren currently conducts invasive plant outreach at UConn and owns Northwind Natives, offering ecological horticulture consulting and educational programming. She has published peer-reviewed research, developed statewide Extension materials, and delivered workshops for diverse groups. Her work bridges applied research and public education, advancing sustainable land care and native plant stewardship throughout New England.