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Lavender companion · grow guide
Ostrich Fern · Matteuccia struthiopteris
Ostrich fern wants shade and constantly moist soil. Given those, it grows big and spreads by underground runners into a colony.
Check my zone & planting dates
Part shadeLight
High waterWet tolerant drainage
pH 5.0–7.0Soil
Zones 3a–7bHardiness
72″ tall48″ wide
ResistantDeer · rabbits resistant
Mildly toxicPets
Huckleberry saysTell me where you grow and I’ll check if Ostrich Fern will thrive there.
Hardy in zones 3a–7b
Spring or early fall.
Your year with Ostrich Fern
When it arrives
Plugs are small and dry out fast. Water on arrival, keep in bright light, and harden off a week before planting. Pot 72- or 20-cell plugs into 4 in pots in shade, or plant directly into moist soil. Never let plugs dry out.
Spring or early fall.
Set the crown at soil level with the bud in the center just at the surface; don't bury the growing point.
2-3 ft apart; it will fill in.
Rich, moist loam or heavy soil · pH 5.0–7.0
Fix-it tip: Add compost or leaf mold and mulch to keep it moist. It handles occasional wet spots well; dry, sandy soil is the problem.
Part shade (tolerates full shade; sun only with cool temps and steady moisture).
In sun or dry soil, fronds brown by midsummer.
Don’t give up on it
Fiddleheads appear in mid to late spring. Stiff brown fertile fronds from last year may stand in the center; that's normal.
Watch for fiddleheads; mulch.
Water in dry spells.
Fronds yellow and die back; remove offsets if needed.
No care needed.
First season: Keep constantly moist the first season.
After that: Needs steady moisture; water in any dry spell.
Light. Leaf mold or compost each spring is enough.
Cut down tattered fronds in late fall or early spring. Leave the brown fertile fronds over winter if you like.
Lift and move runner offsets in spring to control spread or to share.
Very cold hardy (zones 3-8). No protection needed.
In heat or drought, fronds brown and may go dormant early. Not well suited to hot southern summers.
Fronds brown by JulyLikely cause: Too dry or too much sun
What to do: Water and mulch; move to shadier, moister ground.
New ferns popping up far awayLikely cause: Underground runners
What to do: Dig out offsets in spring or install edging.
Slow to appear in springLikely cause: Normal late start
What to do: Wait until late May before worrying; keep soil moist.
Brown, crispy fronds by midsummer mean too dry or too much sun.
Not listed by ASPCA. Raw ostrich fern fiddleheads can cause stomach upset in people, so treat fronds as mildly risky for pets too. Discourage chewing.
Deer: resistant · Rabbits: resistant
Finnegan saysStill not sure what’s wrong? Ask Plant Health — describe it or add a photo.
Possible, with care · 5 gallon+
Possible in a large shaded pot kept constantly moist, but it prefers the ground.
Outdoor plant
Needs winter dormancy outdoors.
No chill needed
A fern; no flowers.
Plugs from the tray
3–4 inch pots for 3–5 weeks, until roots hold the soil
Garden bed or a 5 gallon potTime to move up? Slide the plant out: if white roots wrap the outside of the soil, it’s ready for the next size.
Planting with lavender
Give it its own spot
Needs shade and moist soil, the opposite of lavender. Use it in a shady, moist area such as a north side or woodland edge.
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