Home » Finding Your Perfect Plants » Ferns » Ostrich Fern, Fiddlehead Fern

Ostrich Fern {3 1/2 in. Pots, min 25}
14 customer reviews
Matteuccia struthiopteris (AKA M. pensylvanica, M. pennsylvanica, Pteris nodulosa, S. filicastrum, Osmunda struthiopteris, Onoclea struthiopteris, Fiddlehead Fern, Garden Fern, Hardy Fern, Shuttlecock Fern, Ostrich-Feather Fern)
Pronunciation: mat-TOO-shee-ah stru-thee-OP-ter-iss
Product: 371

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(minimum of 25) 3 1/2 in. Pots
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Matteuccia struthiopteris, commonly called Fiddlehead or Ostrich Fern, offers an erect, feathery plume of vibrant, lush green, divided, lanceolate fronds that arch gracefully outward into a symmetric clump. So interesting to watch grow and examine at all maturity levels, Ostrich Fern has a magnificently dramatic effect when used for naturalizing foliage backdrops, foundations, boundaries, and fresh arrangements.

It grows from an entirely vertical crown but sends out lateral stolons to form new crowns. This unique trait makes Ostrich fern perfect for resisting floodwater destruction (like creek banks) because it can form such dense colonies.

Ostrich fern will reward you with a quick-growing, lush thicket if you treat her to a light mulching of leaves around slightly exposed crowns. She does require moist soil, especially in hot, dry climates and prefers loamy, humus-rich soil in partial shade with only morning sun. If you do have heavy, clay soil, you will find that Ostrich Fern is also willing to grow there, and will reward you even more handsomely if you amend the soil.

Edible tightly wound immature fronds (called fiddleheads) appear in spring, offering a delightful addition to your cooking repertoire as well as visual texture and interest to the garden. Fertile fronds are produced after the vegetative fronds and persist throughout the following winter; the spores shed in mid-winter.

Winter dormant with a moderate growth rate, under good conditions you can expect Ostrich Fern to spread reasonably fast by stout rhizomes.

People love this fern because it is low-maintenance and easy to grow while offering reliable, rich color and height to full shade gardens.

Things to Note
Sunlight in zones 8-10 must be minimal or indirect.

After spring, these are trimmed cut back to about 8 inches tall for shipment and will arrive as such.

Interesting Fact
Edible fiddleheads are considered a delicacy and have been named Vermont's state vegetable. Try cooking these delightful vegetables by simply harvesting when about two inches from the ground and still tightly rolled. Treat them as you would asparagus or try them in quiches and soups. Delicious!

Gardener Tips
Ostrich ferns will grow quite large, but keep in mind that the larger they are the more moisture they will require.

Ostrich ferns will thrive in deep shade, but anticipate them to be smaller than if they were placed in partial shade when planning your garden.

If you are considering purchasing this plant in bare root form, please read about bare root plants so you know what to expect.
See other plants that go well with this plant.
General information about Ferns:
When gardeners and landscape designers are looking for a dramatic, vibrant spray of color and foliage, they will often consider ferns for their project. In addition to sweeping texture and lush greenery, ferns work wonderfully as independent or companion perennials.

Perfect in mass plantings where they create the feeling of a field of grass swaying gently in soft breezes, ferns are also delightful as borders where they stand like shapely chartreuse soldiers at the edges of garden beds. Then again, when used as accents, in single plantings, or clusters amidst a rock garden, you have a moving work of willowy art.

But what to choose? You’ll be pleased to know that after more than 40 years of experimenting with various ferns, we have compiled a selection of the easiest to grow and hardiest ferns. Essentially, we’ve narrowed the list down for you, so you can select from our varieties with confidence. A bonus with our ferns is that all, except Japanese Painted Fern and Japanese Shield Fern are native to the United States.

Our ferns generally thrive in part shade and full shade. Have a full sun location? Southern Shield Fern even tolerates full sun! You will love the hardiness of our ferns as all of them are tolerant of drought and most are rarely eaten by deer.

Selections like Christmas Fern are wonderful erosion control options. With some ferns being evergreen and some semi-evergreen, you are sure to find the option that works wonderfully for your garden. Be sure to check each plant's Description tab for details.

Special note when planting bare root ferns in hot weather: If you plant bare root ferns during hot weather it is common for the foliage to die off. Do not fret, as long as you keep them moist they will grow back foliage. Depending on the severity of the heat it might not be until after summer ends.

See all ferns
Specifications
Shipping
No unusual shipping concerns for this plant.
FREE SHIPPING - Classy Groundcovers offers free shipping, and your plants never spend more than three days in transit.

Precise delivery - another benefit from shopping with us is that you know how many days delivery will take and can control exactly when your order will be shipped.

Shipping information that applies to all plants:
- Transit Time For Your Shipment (at most 3 days)
- When We Ship
- You May Specify Your Shipping Date
- Lookup Shipping Date and Tracking Information
- Special Delivery Instructions
- No Shipments To: AK, AZ, CA, HI, NV, OR, WA or internationally
- Changing Your Shipping Date
- Accepting Delivery
- Unpacking Your Order
- Returns
Care
Performs best in well-drained (but moist) soil with added organic compost or peat moss. Best not to allow soil to dry out.
Ferns have delicate foliage that often suffers during shipment and transplanting. Cut off any foliage that is broken, bent, brown or yellow - the plants will quickly recuperate with fresh growth. Bare root ferns are particularly prone to foliage loss, it is not uncommon to have to cut them off at ground level when transplanting. As long as the roots are firm they will recover, often showing new growth within weeks during warm months. If transplanting bare root ferns during warm weather they might not send up foliage until summer ends or the following spring (best to transplant bare root ferns when they are dormant: late fall to early spring).
General information that applies to all plants:
- Ground preparation, fertilization, pH
- Planting instructions
- Explanation and description of bare roots
- How to plant bare root plants
- If you cannot plant bare roots right away

Reviews
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Nice Starter Ferns
05/21/2019 By Shade Gardener (MA)
Product reviewed: Ostrich Fern {3 1/2 in. Pots min 25}

Arrived in pots well hydrated and ready to plant once acclimated to the site. So far, so good!
Ostrich Fern Assessment
04/24/2019 By DARRYL RUSS (OH)
Product reviewed: Ostrich Fern {3 1/2 in. Pots min 25}

My entire experience with Classy Groundcovers was nothing short of exceptional. I was not sure exactly what I wanted to purchase when I first chatted with Kevin online. He was very patient with my numerous questions and extremely knowledgeable about the... Read full review >
Fantastic ferns
07/04/2017 By Robert Kovar
Product reviewed: Ostrich Fern {3 1/2 in. Pots min 25}

Right out of the box the ferns are lovely. They already had fronds growing on them and all 25 of them are healthy looking. We are super satisfied with them and will definitely buy more plants fro this seller, Highly recommend.
beautiful and ready to be planted
06/16/2016 By Jim Connelly Jr
Product reviewed: Ostrich Fern {3 1/2 in. Pots min 25}

I received my plants right on time. When they arrived they were beautiful and ready to be planted, If you are wondering about this company Don't this is my second order with classy ground covers. The prices are affordable too. Thank you for the nice plants.
Arrived looking full and healthy
05/15/2015 By Doug McKinney
Product reviewed: Ostrich Fern {3 1/2 in. Pots min 25}

I'm very happy with the ferns. They're in excellent condition. I expect them to thrive this summer.
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