sweet-fern

Sweet-fern Comptonia peregrina
Family: Myricaceae (Wax-myrtle)
Branching: Alternate

Sweet-fern is not actually a fern, but a short shrub. Once learned, it's very distinctive and has a fragrant smell when crushed. It doesn't really grow much higher than knee-level but can form dense thickets.

Winter twig of Sweet-fern

Twigs are usually a little hairy

Closeup of a lateral bud.

Sometimes leaves are retained through the winter. They are slender and lobed (they look a little like
fern fronds, hence the common name)