Unpack bare roots or rhizomes on arrival and plant them within a week. Until then, keep them somewhere cool and ensure the roots remain slightly moist, never wet.
Out of season
If you’re looking for an impressive plant to bring life to a shady space, you won’t regret taking a shot at this spectacular shuttlecock fern, Matteuccia struthiopteris. Watch those tightly curled fronds unroll into fiddleheads in spring, before fully unfurling into a giant shuttlecock of upright, soft ferny foliage which lasts through summer and autumn. The flamboyant, feathery appearance of these enormous leaves also earn this fabulous foliage plant a second common name—Ostrich fern.
By early summer Matteuccia struthiopteris will be in full foliage glory, providing a magnificent architectural presence. The shuttlecock fern loves a spot in cool, damp soils and boggy areas. This super low-maintenance, fully hardy perennial is a keen naturaliser, spreading by underground rhizomes to form spectacular colonies as the years pass. Shade-loving Matteuccia struthiopteris flourishes in the dappled shade beneath a canopy of deciduous trees, in the full shade of buildings or close to a pond edges.
Quantity
Plant profile
Plant calendar
Remove the packaging straight away, check the compost and water thoroughly if dry. Check the plant’s hardiness before placing it outdoors. Plant into a border or permanent container within a month, choosing the position recommended for the variety. Keep the top of the root ball level with the surrounding soil, firm gently and water well.
Soak the roots in water for three to six hours immediately before planting. Keep any crown, buds or emerging shoots above the water where possible.
Pot most bare roots into 15–20cm pots filled with peat-free multipurpose compost. Large or depth-sensitive roots, including peonies, are often best planted directly into borders.
Arrange the roots naturally without bending them. Cover the roots completely, positioning the crown and buds at the depth recommended for that particular perennial.
Keep pots in a sheltered outdoor position and water whenever the compost begins to dry. Grow on until roots hold the compost together when lifted from the pot.
Plant into a suitable border or permanent container once well rooted. Add a label and water regularly throughout the first growing season while the perennial establishes.
- Botanical name
- Matteuccia struthiopteris
- Established height
- 50-70cm
- Established spread
- 30-50cm
- Growing skill
- Easy to grow
- Habit
-
Upright
Clump-forming - Hardiness
- Fully hardy
- Leaf colour
- Green
- Mouse resistant
- No
- Plant size
- 1
- Plant spacing
- 5 plants per m2
- Pollinator friendly
- Yes
- Position
- Sheltered
- Rabbit resistant
- Yes
- Scented
- No
- Soil acidity
- Any
- Soil moisture
-
Damp
Free draining - Soil type
-
Loam
Clay
Loam-based compost
Sandy - Suitable for
-
Large containers
Borders
Cottage gardens
Low maintenance gardens
Pots - Sunlight
-
Full shade
Partial shade
Dappled shade - Toxicity
- No report
- Years to establish
- 2-3 years
Pollinator-friendly
Great for shade
RHS Recommended
Perennial
Fully hardy
Packed peat-free
Low maintenance
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Matteuccia struthiopteris reviews
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