Onoclea sensibilis, the Sensitive Fern, has a wide distribution across the northern hemisphere including Canada, the USA, Russia, China and Asia. It is deciduous and remains dormant until late in the Spring, missing the frosts. Growth - once it starts - is rapid and somewhat spectacular and the pinnate sterile fronds are large, lush and bright green and with their wavy lobes are very exotic in appearance. The fertile fronds which follow are quite different, being brown, woody and upright and the sori cling to the pinnae like small brown beads giving rise to its other common name: Bead Fern. The fertile fronds usually persist throughout the winter while the green sterile fronds disappear with the first frosts.

Onoclea sensibilis requires a moist location in the shade or semi-shade. It is a wonderful fern to create a lush under-planting in a damp spot, gradually forming a large colony by its creeping rhizomes.