Matteuccia struthiopteris

Sizes available: HPP #1

Basics: zones 3-7, 3-6' x 5-8', part sun to full shade, wet to medium moisture (So far, I have found this fern to prefer a bit of sun and definitely consistent moisture), does not appreciate drying out, not tolerant of a windy site, likes a rich, moisture retentive soil, likes a cool summer

Common names: Ostrich Fern, Fiddlehead Fern, Shuttlecock Fern

Family: Onocleaceae

Origin/Distribution: This fern is circumboreal and occurs in temperate regions of North America, central and northern Europe, and parts of Asia.

Habitat: shady sandbars, river and stream edges, wet and low woodland, swamps, thickets

More: Ostrich Fern has a statuesque and elegant vase shape. It is both deer and rabbit resistant. This is a rhizomatous fern and, if happy, will form a colony of dense crowns are capable of holding the side of a riverbank. The fiddleheads are edible when cooked and are a springtime, seasonal treat in Maine. They are also enjoyed in Japan and other parts of Asia. Larval host for the Gold-spotted Ghost Moth, Sthenopis pretiosus, which occurs in Maine, but is not common here.

Why grow ferns besides your admiration for a plant that has been present on Earth for over 360 billion years? Ferns support wildlife by creating protective cover and shady, moist micro-habitats, in particular for small mammals and invertebrates. The fuzzy covering on emerging croziers is used by birds for nesting material. Ferns help prevent erosion and filter run-off. For the gardener they offer the gifts of graceful architecture and low-maintenance textural beauty.

Nursery: Honey Petal Plants

Image credits: Wikimedia Commons; Frank Meuschke of Shelterwood Gardens