Plant guide: Matteuccia struthiopteris
Botanical name:
Matteuccia struthiopteris
Known as the ostrich fern or the shuttlecock fern, the gorgeous Matteuccia struthiopteris is an unmissable large fern for a damp spot. Growing well in very damp, even boggy conditions, this is a fern with especially spectacular frond unfurling capabilities! The long, upright fronds open slowly from tight coils, to reveal lacy, intricate leaves, that reach up to around 1.5m tall.
It is a fern that spreads in ideal conditions, forming dense colonies, and is perfect for the side of a lake, in a shaded and cool spot. We love to use it in damp, shady spots for its delicate drama.
Plant type:
Deciduous fern
Growing conditions:
Like many ferns, this grows well in damp and shaded conditions, but it can tolerate especially high levels of moisture and can thrive in a boggy conditions or in rain gardens. In our garden, it seems to cope with higher light levels than other ferns, so is a good fern to try in a brighter spot
It doesn’t do well in exposed areas with high levels of wind, and prefers a slightly more protected spot.
How to plant:
Easiest to buy as container plants, and planted out into the garden from a pot. Best planted in Spring or Autumn, dig a hole the depth of the pot and twice as wide, and place the plant in, before backfilling. See our guide to planting out container grown plants for more info.
Care:
Consistent moisture is essential for this fern to do well. Water if needed in any dry periods, but ideally plant in a naturally moist spot.
A mulch around the base of the plant in Autumn – taking care not to press the mulch right up to the fronds – will help to conserve moisture.
This is a plant that can start to spread when happy. Again, it is ideally planted somewhere this isn’t an issue! However, if you want to keep it in check, dig up any new plants in the Spring and either plant elsewhere or give to friends.
Grow with:
In our garden, we grow this underplanted with wild strawberries, which is an unexpected but excellent combination! The matteuccia pops up through the low-growing strawberries with beautiful lime green fronds in Spring, and then grows out above them, as it’s such a striking, upright form of fern.
It also grows well alongside late flowering plants, such as Japanese anemones, as you can enjoy the zingy Spring impact of the matteuccia, which then takes a back seat in the late summer months as the anemones get going. Check out our five favourite late flowering plants for more plants that flower later in the season.
How to propagate:
As this is a plant that naturally spreads, it is easy to propagate from new plants. In Spring, dig up any clumps that have become congested and carefully divide to form new plants. See our guide on how to divide plants for more info.
