Ostrich fern, Matteuccia struthiopteris

Bring bold, architectural texture to shady gardens with ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris). Its dramatic, vase-shaped fronds unfurl from spring fiddleheads, creating a lush green backdrop and spreading naturally into impressive colonies. Hardy in zones 3–7, this fern is ideal for woodland gardens, rain gardens, streamside plantings, shaded slopes, naturalized areas, and mass plantings, it’s especially useful for filling cool, damp spaces where other plants struggle. In spring, harvest the edible fiddleheads and steam for a bright spring vegetable.

Key Features:

• One of the best groundcovers for shady areas
• Fiddleheads are edible
• Graceful arching fronds emerge in spring to create vase-shaped 
• Tolerates wet soils but adapted to average garden soil
  

Plant Details:
Height: 3-6 ft. | Spread: 5-8'
Light: part shade - full shade
Soil: Average to wet
Zones: 3-7