Overwintering guide
How to overwinter purple royal fern
Winter watering
No winter watering needed in open ground. Containers only need water in long dry, frost-free spells.
The mistake that kills purple royal fern in winter
Cutting purple royal fern hard back in autumn "to tidy up". That removes the growth that shelters the crown, and on some plants removes next season's flower buds entirely.
More purple royal fern care
- Overwintering royal fern — the species this cultivar belongs to
- Overwintering purple royal fern — our other guide for the same plant
- Full purple royal fern care guide
- Purple Royal Fern temperature range
- How often to water purple royal fern
- How to prune purple royal fern
- Common purple royal fern problems & fixes
- Best plant identifier apps — tested and ranked
Overwintering purple royal fern — FAQ
Does purple royal fern need to come indoors for winter?
Purple Royal Fern is hardy to roughly USDA zone 2 — winter lows around -46°C. That means it can stay outside all winter in most temperate gardens. Purple Royal Fern is properly hardy and overwinters outside without fuss. Tidy away anything dead or diseased, apply a mulch over the crown to steady soil temperatures, and otherwise leave it alone — many hardy plants actually need a cold period to flower and grow well the following year. Save hard pruning for the right season rather than doing it in autumn.
When should I move purple royal fern for winter?
Tidy and mulch in late autumn; leave the plant undisturbed until spring.
How often should I water purple royal fern in winter?
No winter watering needed in open ground. Containers only need water in long dry, frost-free spells.
What kills purple royal fern over winter?
Cutting purple royal fern hard back in autumn "to tidy up". That removes the growth that shelters the crown, and on some plants removes next season's flower buds entirely.