Location Dispersed by tiny wind blown spores, royal fern has managed to colonize much of the world. This cosmopolitan fern occurs naturally in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North and South America. In North America, royal fern occurs in moist woods, floodplains, and swamps from Newfoundland west to Saskatchewan and south to Louisiana and Florida. Grown royal fern in light shade to full shade. With plenty of water it can tolerate nearly full sun, more so than cinnamon fern.
Royal fern likes a moist, somewhat water retentive soil.
Royal fern can be propagated from spores, but it's quicker to get new plants by dividing the rhizomes. Usage Royal fern provides a dramatic, tropical effect in a shady border, woodland garden or at the edge of a pond or stream. It does best in soils with an acidic pH. The young croziers or fiddleheads can be prepared like asparagus and eaten. Native Americans used various parts of royal fern medicinally to treat a variety of ailments. Features Royal fern is truly the king of the ferns.