Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris)

It’s Ferned It’s Place Among The Best

• Hardiness: 3-7
• Height: 3-6′
• Spread: 5-6′
• Exposure: Part to Full Shade
• Foliage Color: Light Green

Why We Love It:
Ostrich Fern is primarily valued in the garden for its ornamental upright and spreading habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage. Its large fragrant ferny compound leaves remain light green in color throughout the season.

Know Before You Plant:
This is a high maintenance plant that will require regular care and upkeep, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. Deer don’t particularly care for this plant and will, thankfully, usually leave it alone. It tends to be leggy, with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and should be underplanted with lower-growing perennials.

Where It Thrives:
Even as we start the summer season here in Wisconsin, Ostrich Fern grows best in shade with rich, moist soil. It is an amazingly adaptable plant, tolerating both dry conditions and even some standing water. This species is native to parts of North America. It can even be propagated by division!