Survives fires in many habitat types and may increase in cover. However, if the fire is so intense or of such duration that it burns the organic substrate completely, cinnamon fern will be lost. Spore germination in liquid medium is useful for bioassay of toxic opper, cadmium, and zinc concentrations. Both sterile and fertile fronds expand during a short period in early spring. Leaf expansion is complete within about a month.
Fertile fronds begin to wither in early summer, after sporulation is completed.
Sterile pinnae begin to wither at the end of summer, and the leaf stalk somewhat later, until the entire aerial part of the plant is dry. Spores are discharged in spring and can germinate within 1-2 days of release.