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Ostrich Fern

Matteuccia Struthiopteris

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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’s 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) — Hardy and low maintenance, it offers a graceful, arching display, emulating its namesake‚Äôs plumes, image 85
Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia Struthiopteris) — This fern\'s growth pattern is distinctive; <br><br>It also bears "fiddleheads" in early spring, image 66
Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia Struthiopteris) — Its common name derives from the grand, arching fronds that resemble the graceful feathers of an, image 62
Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia Struthiopteris) — is a deciduous perennial that brings an elegant and lush greenery to any shaded landscape design; known botanically
Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia Struthiopteris) — it provides dramatic vertical texture and lush; green backdrop in woodland gardens
Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia Struthiopteris) — the Ostrich Fern prefers a rich; preferring partial to full shade, it flourishes in moist, rich soil, image 64
Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia Struthiopteris) — The Ostrich Fern, Matteuccia struthiopteris, is a robust, crown-forming perennial, thriving in USDA, image 53
Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia Struthiopteris) — Its common name derives from the grand, arching fronds that resemble the graceful feathers of an ostrich; vase-like
Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia Struthiopteris) — <br><br>It also bears "fiddleheads" in early spring; the Ostrich Fern prefers a rich, image 95
Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia Struthiopteris) — they do require consistent moisture
Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia Struthiopteris) — is a deciduous perennial that brings an elegant and lush greenery to any shaded landscape design
Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia Struthiopteris) — known botanically as Matteuccia struthiopteris; the Ostrich Fern, Matteuccia struthiopteris, is a robust, image 86
Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia Struthiopteris) — it provides dramatic vertical texture and lush; green backdrop in woodland gardens, image 109
Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia Struthiopteris) — <br><br>It is important to note that while these ferns are low maintenance; fern for half or shade, image 97
Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia Struthiopteris) — vase-like clumps which can spread to form a dense colony when happily situated
Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia Struthiopteris) — the Ostrich Fern offers a dramatic; is a deciduous perennial that brings an elegant and lush greenery to any shaded
Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia Struthiopteris) — A generous layer of mulch will help to maintain soil moisture and keep root systems cool; especially, image 74
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 to note that
Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia Struthiopteris) — fern for half or shade; an enchanting addition to any woodland or shade garden, image 78
Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia Struthiopteris) — Preferring partial to full shade, it flourishes in moist, rich soil; which unfurl into the large fronds, image 81
Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia Struthiopteris) — yet natural aesthetic with minimal care requirements; thanks to its underground rhizomes, image 103
Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia Struthiopteris) — Preferring partial to full shade, it flourishes in moist, rich soil; which unfurl into the large fronds that can
Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia Struthiopteris) — well-drained soil and will thrive in part to full shade; its common name derives from the grand, arching, image 65
Matteuccia Struthiopteris

Photo courtesy of Proven Winners

Photographs by 10 contributors

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