Ostrich Fern plant profile
Matteuccia struthiopteris
A perennial fern for shade.
Last updated .
When to plant
When to plant Ostrich Fern
Ostrich fern is a tall shade fern that spreads by underground runners to form colonies. NC State's recommended way to propagate it is to divide the crowns in the spring, so set out new plants or divisions in spring as the fiddleheads emerge.
The calendar shows this cited seasonal window as an approximate band. It does not convert the season into frost-adjusted dates.
Open Ostrich Fern in my garden calendarShows the source-backed planting season, not frost-adjusted dates.
Growing conditions
- Sun
- Shade
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Spacing
- 36 to 72 in apart
- Hardiness
- Zones 3a to 8bFind my hardiness zone
Next steps
Continue with Ostrich Fern
Evidence trail
Evidence behind this profile
Original extension and institutional publications behind the planting, care, and safety facts on this page.
- Matteuccia struthiopteris (Ostrich Fern)
North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (NC State Extension). Supports general reference. Checked 2026-06-18.