plant

Ostrich fern

Matteuccia struthiopteris

Updated 4 Aug 2026 · AI-parsed entry

Ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris) — a plant, for Part shade, High water.

What it needs & gives back

↓ Needs

Lightpart shade to full shade
Waterconsistently moist

↑ Gives back

Mulch_biomassmedium
Shadedense ground cover

Through the year

Through the year

JFMAMJJASOND
emergenceFronds emerge in early spring after the last frost and soil temperatures rise above 5°C.
senescenceFronds begin to die back with the first hard autumn frosts.
dormancyEnters dormancy after fronds senesce, lasting through winter.

Soil interactions

Drainagemoist but well-drained
Nitrogen fixingNo
MycorrhizalNo
Accumulatespotassium, phosphorus
Soil textureloam, silt
Organic matterHigh
Compaction toleranceLow

Propagation

Methodsspores, division
Difficulty2 / 5
Establishes in~1 yr
Self-seedingModerate
Divisionspring