Sweet fern

Comptonia peregrina

This low growing shrub does best in sandy soils, from well-drained dry sites to the edges of marshes. Sweet Fern (Comptonia peregrina) grows in Full sun to light shade, producing fern-like leaves that have a pleasant fragrance when crushed, hence the name. Often forms large colonies, so give this plant some room. Sweet Fern is a larval host plant for the Grey Hairstreak Butterfly.