Matteuccia struthiopteris
Strawberry fern
Common names: Straw fern, Feather fern
Photo: CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
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Description
The straw fern forms funnel‑shaped leaf rosettes of deep green, finely feathered fronds that resemble an upright feathered bush. Over time it spreads via creeping runners, creating larger clumps, making it well suited as a groundcover in damp shade. The young, still rolled frond shoots are called fiddleheads and are considered a delicacy in some regions, though they should not be eaten raw. At a garden pond, under shrubs or in a shaded border, it adds a calm, structured accent with its symmetrical growth habit.
Care instructions
The straw fern prefers constant moisture; water regularly during dry summer weeks, especially at sunnier sites. A mulch layer of leaf litter or bark humus keeps the root zone cool and retains moisture. Because it spreads by runners, give it space from the start or install a rhizome barrier if you wish to limit its spread. Remove wilted fronds in late autumn or early spring close to the ground; new fiddleheads appear from mid‑April (week 16). It requires little fertilizer; a single compost application in spring is sufficient.
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
moist, humus-rich, well-drained, nutrient-rich
Feeding
Medium feeder
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