Matteuccia struthiopteris AGM

Shuttlecock Fern, Ostrich Fern, Fiddleheads Onocleaceae

A magnificent fern for cool, moist shade, Matteuccia struthiopteris forms elegant crowns of tall, fresh-green fronds that unfurl in spring like enormous shuttlecocks, creating a wonderfully architectural clump. The fertile fronds appear later, turning brown and persisting through winter, adding useful structure when the main foliage has disappeared. Particularly effective in woodland planting, beside ponds or in a shady, moisture-retentive border, where its lush foliage gives an unmistakably primeval feel. The Ostrich Fern, named for the resemblance of its elegant fronds to ostrich feathers — although considerably less expensive to feed and much easier to keep in its allotted space.

Height: 90–150cm
Spread: 60–100cm