Ostrich Fern

Matteuccia Struthiopteris

Overview

The Ostrich Fern, Matteuccia struthiopteris, is a robust, crown-forming perennial, thriving in USDA zones 3-7. With its stately, vase-like clumps, it unfurls feather-like fronds reaching 3-6 feet in height. Preferring partial to full shade, it flourishes in moist, rich soil. Ideal for naturalized areas, it provides dramatic vertical texture and lush, green backdrop in woodland gardens. Hardy and low maintenance, it offers a graceful, arching display, emulating its namesake‚Äôs plumes.

Sun Half, ShadeWater Extra in Summer, HighZones 3–7Type Fern

Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia Struthiopteris) — The Ostrich Fern, Matteuccia struthiopteris, is a robust, crown-forming perennial, thriving in USDA zones 3-7

Culture

Sun: Half, Shade
Water: Extra in Summer, High
USDA zones: 3–7

Shape & size

Classification

Type: Fern
Family: Onocleaceae

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Photos (139)

Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia Struthiopteris) — Its common name derives from the grand, arching fronds that resemble the graceful feathers of an, image 114

Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia Struthiopteris) — especially during dry periods

Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia Struthiopteris) — well-drained soil and will thrive in part to full shade; its common name derives from the grand, arching, image 117

Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia Struthiopteris) — The Ostrich Fern, Matteuccia struthiopteris, is a robust, crown-forming perennial, thriving in USDA, image 79

Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia Struthiopteris) — known botanically as Matteuccia struthiopteris; the Ostrich Fern, Matteuccia struthiopteris, is a robust, image 112

$Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia Struthiopteris) — This fern\'s growth pattern is distinctive; <br><br>It also bears "fiddleheads" in early spring, image 92$

Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia Struthiopteris) — Hardy and low maintenance, it offers a graceful, arching display, emulating its namesake‚Äôs plumes; they do require

Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia Struthiopteris) — which unfurl into the large fronds that can reach up to 4 to 5 feet in length; <br><br>It is important, image 96

Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia Struthiopteris) — the Ostrich Fern offers a dramatic

Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia Struthiopteris) — Hardy and low maintenance, it offers a graceful, arching display, emulating its namesake‚Äôs plumes, image 59

$Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia Struthiopteris) — especially during dry periods; this fern\'s growth pattern is distinctive, image 73$

Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia Struthiopteris) — Ideal for naturalized areas; yet natural aesthetic with minimal care requirements

Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia Struthiopteris) — they do require consistent moisture; hardy and low maintenance, it offers a graceful, arching display, image 98

Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia Struthiopteris) — With its stately, vase-like clumps, it unfurls feather-like fronds reaching 3-6 feet in height

Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia Struthiopteris) — which unfurl into the large fronds that can reach up to 4 to 5 feet in length

Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia Struthiopteris) — Hardy and low maintenance, it offers a graceful, arching display, emulating its namesake‚Äôs plumes

Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia Struthiopteris) — fern for half or shade; an enchanting addition to any woodland or shade garden

Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia Struthiopteris) — vase-like clumps which can spread to form a dense colony when happily situated; the Ostrich Fern offers, image 67

Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia Struthiopteris) — the Ostrich Fern offers a dramatic; is a deciduous perennial that brings an elegant and lush greenery to, image 102

$Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia Struthiopteris) — This fern\'s growth pattern is distinctive; <br><br>It also bears "fiddleheads" in early spring, image 118$

Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia Struthiopteris) — the Ostrich Fern prefers a rich; preferring partial to full shade, it flourishes in moist, rich soil

Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia Struthiopteris) — thanks to its underground rhizomes

Photo courtesy of Proven Winners

Photographs by 14 contributors

David J. Stang, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Ryan Somma, CC BY 2.0 · source
User:Zimmerzute, CC BY 2.5 · source
Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Doug McGrady from Warwick, RI, USA, CC BY 2.0 · source
Superior National Forest, CC BY 2.0 · source
Ryan Hodnett, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Miika Silfverberg, CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Will Brown, CC BY 2.0 · source
Paige Filler, CC BY 2.0 · source
Cristian Bortes www.eyeem.com/bortescristian from Cluj-Napoca, CC BY 2.0 · source
Hugo.arg, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Robbie Sproule from Montreal, Canada, CC BY 2.0 · source
Katja Schulz from Washington, D. C.,…, CC BY 2.0 · source