Comptonia peregrina, sweet fern. (It's NOT a fern)

Comptonia, sweet fern. Despite the name, it's not a fern, but a native shrub.

LOL...Sigrid, we seem to have made identical comments simultaneously.

It grows quite well here in western WI and will expand quickly when happy. It's a terrific native shrub and I don't understand why it isn't used more often. It does require well drained soils. Poor Man's Lavender...

Purportedly has insect repelling properties. in outdoor ed school we’d break off a section and wear it like hat with the ”fronds” hanging down- no its not a fern and thoses arent fronds- maybe compound leaves?

Marie, good question, and I don’t know the botanical term that would describe the leaf. I’m not sure piney is how I’d describe the fragrance, but it sure is potent.

Here's my take on The Sweet Fern:

- xerophyte, no watering needed

- fragrant foliage (similar to it's relative Bayberry)

-deer-proof

-textbook example of pinnatifid leaf

-ironclad winter hardiness

-nitrogen fixing, grows in poor, sterile sites.

-colony forming, great for massing, hard to maintain areas

-absolutely no pruning/trimming necessary, mine stop at waist height

People who genuinely know shrubs love this one. It has no negatives. Soft and willowy habit, if I had 100 acres I'd plant The Sweet Fern on 99 of them.

Thank you!

Wish id planted my hillside with sweetfern instrad of sumac ”lowgrow””

What an unruly shrub p. i fear it will never stop its expansion.