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 resonably 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 Spacing 24 - 36 inches. Mature height 36 - 72 inches. Part sun, Full shade. Zones: 3-7.
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