Ostrich Fern – A Pretty Tree For The Sunlit Yard.

Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris): An annual favorite with feathery and large fronds as feathery as an ostrich bill. It is a fern species that brings depth and sophistication to garden spaces and a natural woodland texture that is great for shady or semi-shade areas. As a border plant, naturaliser, or background to flowering plants, the Ostrich Fern is simple to grow and low maintenance for novice and expert gardeners alike.

Key Features of Ostrich Fern:

Beautiful Shape: The Ostrich Fern is a shrub with arching, long fronds that stand out in the shade of your backyard. Its emerald leaves give life to any garden.
Fast-Growing: This fern makes an excellent thick ground cover in a shade or forest garden.
Shade-tolerant: Ostrich fern is suitable for shade. It does great in the sun or shade and is one of the best shrubs for shady beds.
Flexible and Hardy: This is a very hardy fern that does best in almost any soil as long as it is moist and draining, USDA zones 3-7.
Easy Care: After planting, Ostrich Fern doesn’t require much care and is the perfect plant for gardeners who want something classy and effortless.

Benefits of Planting Ostrich Fern:

Provides Extensive Ground Cover: Ostrich Fern spreads very quickly and has plenty of foliage, so it is great for weeding plain soil, removing weeds, and adding visual interest to your yard.
Answer: Use It in Damp, Shaded Zones: This fern thrives where others fail — in damp, shaded places, near ponds and streams.
Wildlife-friendly: The fronds keep the smaller birds out, and the spores attract a few beneficial insects to support your garden.
Offers Variety: Grow the Ostrich Fern in woodland beds, border beds, or shade gardens. You can use it with hostas, astilbes, and other shaded perennials.

Growing and Taking Care of Ostrich Fern:

Where: Find a half-shady, wet, deep place. Plant it not in the zones where it will receive plenty of water and full sun.
Soil: Drain the soil and do not let it dry out. Completion with organic materials like compost is good for the soil.
Soil watering: Don’t let the soil dry out any time soon. Once planted, Ostrich Fern is pretty drought tolerant but will need plenty of water.
Mulching: Mulch keeps it moist, weed-free, and warm.
Cut: Cut back dead fronds at the end of fall or early spring so they’re tidy and clean.

But Why You Need to Grow Ostrich Fern In Your Yard?

A perennial that’s well worth keeping on hand, the Ostrich Fern makes any garden in shade pop with its fern-like leaves and natural shape. Put this fern in bed beds, by the roadside, or in a shade garden with other shade-loving plants, and you get a fern of unparalleled grace and elegance. It’s resistant, versatile, and straightforward to care for, so it's suitable for any aspiring gardener.