Matteuccia struthiopteris - Ostrich Fern

Sizes available: May have more later in 2026

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. Native to Maine.

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 eaten in Japan and other parts of Asia, but are potentially toxic if not prepared properly. The fronds are dramatic in larger floral arrangements. Larval host for the Gold-spotted Ghost Moth, Sthenopis pretiosus, which occurs in Maine, but is not common here. Has been used medicinally.

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.

Source: Landscape plugs from North Creek Nursery

Image credits: Wikimedia Commons; Frank Meuschke of Shelterwood Gardens