Matteuccia Struthiopteris #1

The Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris) is a large, deciduous fern that forms vase-shaped colonies with an upright, plume-like appearance, earning its name from the tall, graceful sterile fronds that resemble ostrich tail feathers. It thrives in cool, moist, shady environments and spreads by rhizomes. Key features include its edible fiddleheads in the spring, which are coiled young fronds, and its unique fertile fronds that remain upright and turn brown through the winter after the sterile fronds die back.  

• Bloom Time: Appeal is foliage. Fronds emerge in mid-to-late spring.
• Light Requirements: Full Shade to Part Shade (3 to 6 Hours)
• Soil Requirements: Must be well-drained but consistently moist. Tolerates clay soil but loves rich, fertile conditions. Tolerates neutral to acidic pH levels.