Matteuccia

Matteuccia are known to us mainly in the form of the Matteuccia struthiopteris, the beautiful Shuttlecock Fern affectionately known as the Ostrich Fern. This plant is part of a genus that only includes three species and a few varieties, all native to the temperate zones of the Northern Hemisphere. Matteuccia, hardy and well adapted to our climate, are characterised by very large vertical fronds, their size varies from 0.60 m (2ft) to 1.70 m (6ft) in all directions. They are enchanting ferns, divine in the undergrowth, under deciduous trees or bushes where they form superb groundcover. Depending on the species, they can be very or not at all stoloniferous and colonising, but they all grow easily in partial shade and in loose, moist, non-calcareous soil. Depending on the space you have, this characteristic should to be taken into consideration when selecting your species. They can also be planted, like Osmunda, near water, reflecting their architectural silhouette.