Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia)
Perennial
- Graceful upright fronds resemble ostrich feathers!
- Charming fiddleheads unfurl in spring.
- Native perennial grows vigorously, quickly filling your garden.
- Cold tolerant and resistant to deer and rabbits.
- Zones 3-7, part sun/shade, 6' tall x 4' wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
Details
Common name: Ostrich fern
Zone: 3 - 7
Sun exposure: Shade (< 4 hours sun) to part-sun (4-6 hours sun)
Height x width: 3-6' tall x 3-4' wide
Foliage color: Green
Season of interest: Spring through fall
Bloom time: non-flowering
Features: Wet soils, rain gardens, rabbit resistant, native heat tolerant, deer resistant, rabbit resistant, cold tolerant, best sellers
Uses: Accent, border, container gardening, foundation planting, massing, specimen, woodland
How to Grow
Light: Shade (< 4 hours sun) to part-sun (4-6 hours sun)
Water: Thrives with consistent moisture.
Spacing: 4 ft apart
Fertilizing: Generally unnecessary, but an application of compost in spring can be beneficial. Inorganic fertilizers may burn roots.
Winterizing: Trim leaves to the ground in late fall or early spring.
Maintenance & pruning: Spores are infertile. Can divide in spring every 3- 4 years.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.