Ostrich Fern - Matteuccia struthiopteris - €8 per plant  
Multipack - 10 plants for 60 EUR 

Matteuccia struthiopteris adds a touch of grandeur to the understory of a forest garden, reaching up to 1.8 meters tall. Its large, arching fronds, reminiscent of ostrich feathers, create a striking vase-like shape. Thriving in zones 3 to 7, this fern is a champion of cold winters. Beyond its beauty, the Ostrich Fern offers a culinary treat. Its edible fiddleheads, the tightly curled young fronds that emerge in spring, are a delicacy for foragers and chefs alike. Low maintenance is another perk of the Ostrich Fern.  Deer and rabbits won't be a bother either, making it a gardener's delight. To order this plant please contact us [email protected].  

Context

  • native region: Europe-Asia
  • native habitat: Light shade on rocky stream banks, forming extensive colonies Wooded ravines.
  • family: Polypodiaceae

Predators

  • no experience of any pests or predators 

Needs, tolerances 

  • Light: Full Sun
  • soil pH: acid-neutral and can grow in very acid soils
  • USDA Hardiness Zone: 2- 7
  • It can grow in heavy clay and nutritionally poor soils.
  • Prefers moist soil

Known hazards 

  • Many ferns also contain thiaminase, an enzyme that robs the body of its vitamin B complex. In small quantities this enzyme will do no harm to people eating an adequate diet that is rich in vitamin B, though large quantities can cause severe health problems. The enzyme is destroyed by heat or thorough drying, so cooking the plant will remove the thiaminase.

Overview

  • Evergreen Fern
  • Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay
  • Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils and can grow in very acid soils.
  • It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland).
  • It prefers moist soil

Characteristics

  • form:  Upright Fern
  • Layer: Ground layer
  • habit: clumping and spreading 
  • height x width (m): 1 x 0.5

Products 

  • Young fronds - raw or cooked, used before they fully unroll, they are thick and succulent.
  • Roots can be peeled and roasted
  • Produces a good bulk and makes a good biomass plant

Functions, behaviours

  • It prefers well-drained, moist soil in areas with partial to full shade.
  • While it can tolerate full sun, keeping the soil consistently moist is crucial in such conditions.​

Polyculture Partners -
See our polyculture profile, Berries Tubers and Shoots that features this plant.   

Picture

    If you would like this plant please send an email to [email protected] with your order. 
    Balkan Ecology Project