Ostrich Fern

Scientific name

Matteuccia struthiopteris

Description

The Ostrich Fern is a coarse, erect to arching perennial fern, that can grow up to 1.5 m in height. The stems are clustered and arching while the leaves are ostrich-plume shaped, widest near top, and very gradually narrowed to the base. The size of the leaves grow up to 1.5 m long and 12-40 cm wide, with around 40 pairs of leaflets or pinnae. The leaflets are long, narrow-pointed, and ascending. The leaves are fertile, with spore clusters on the undersides of sub-leaflets.

Planting conditions

Ostrich Fern grows best in moist conditions with full shade or partial sun exposure. It prefers well-drained, constantly moist, organically rich, sand, loam, or clay soil types. It tolerates heavy shade and periodically wet areas. This fern can be naturally found in wet forests, wet roadside ditches, around swamps/marshes, and along stream or lake shorelines.

Details

• Plant height:
  • Max 1.5m
  • Max 2m
  • Max 3m
  • Any
• Moisture level:
  • Moist
  • Wet
  • Flood Tolerant
• Light conditions:
  • Partial sun
  • Shade
• Soil type:
  • Sandy
  • Loamy
  • Clay
• pH:
  • Normal
• Depth:
  • Potted
• Eco Zone:
  • 3b
  • 4a
  • 4b
  • 5a
  • 5b
  • 6a
  • 6b
  • 7a
• Plant type:
  • Fern
• Height:
  • 1.5 m
• Spread:
  • 1 m