Ostrich Fern

Ostrich Fern (Struthiopteris)
Tall, handsome, and vigorous hardy ferns with fronds of two kinds, fertile and sterile, the former being always grouped in the centre of the plant, and the latter forming a cordon round them.

Ostrich Fern
Large, lustrous, dark green fronds arch gracefully and give the tropical feel of a palm. Happiest in a cool moist site, it will tolerate more sun at the side of a stream or pond.

Ostrich Fern
Ostrich Fern
Photo courtesy Wisconsin State Herbarium and Robert W. Freckmann
Flora, fauna, earth, and sky...
The natural history of the northwoods ...

Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris): While ostrich fern can grow 4 to 6 feet tall in the wild, it is generally shorter in gardens. This large deciduous fern is vase shaped and will reach greatest height with ample water and rich soil.

Ostrich Fern; aka,
Shuttlecock Fern; aka,
Fiddlehead Fern
Truly a classic deciduous fern, Ostritch Fern stands among the hardiest of gardened ferns. Its fronds are large, vase-shaped, & sweeping.

Family:
Ostrich Fern
Family:
Aspleniaceae (alternatively Woodsiaceae) ...

Ostrich Fern [English]: Matteuccia struthiopteris
Ostrich Fern [English]: Matteuccia pennsylvanica
Ostrich Fern [English]: Matteuccia struthiopteris var. pennsylvanica
Ostrich Plume Daylily [English]: Hemerocallis 'Ostrich Plume' ...

Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris)
Ostrya knowltonii
Oswego Tea (Monarda didyma 'Donnerwolke')
Oswego Tea (Monarda didyma 'Panorama')
Oswego Tea (Monarda didyma 'Marshall's Delight')
Otatea acuminata
Our Lord's Candle (Yucca whipplei) ...

Much finer foliage can be provided by ferns such as the ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris) and the sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis), which are only happy in very wet conditions, and by some bamboos which also like it wet, ...

elephant ear, giant knotweed, ostrich fern, sachaline, Sakhalin knotweed, spreading knotweed
Family
Polygonaceae ...

Matteucia struthiopteris ( Ostrich Fern )
Matthiola incana ( Stock )
Maxillaria cucullata ( Maxillaria Orchid ) ...

Finally, select plants that will be in scale with their surroundings: large ostrich ferns and hostas may be perfect under mature trees, but dwarf pinks and astilbes are more suitable around walkways and patios.

(Ostrich Fern)
Miscanthus sp. and hybrids (Maiden Grass)
Muhlenbergia sp. (Muhly Grass)
Myosotis sp. (Forget me not)
Nepeta sp. and hybrids (Catnip)
Nerium oleander (Oleander)
Nicotiana glauca (Tree Tobacco)
Nolina sp. (Bear Grass)
Onoclea sp.

See also: Fern, Ferns, May, Grass, Green