Matteuccia struthiopteris
"Shuttlecock fern"
Orders placed before 1 March 2025
You can expect your order in February/March 2025
Orders placed 1 March - 15 April 2025
You can expect your order in March/April 2025
Orders placed 16 April - 15 May 2025
You can expect your order within 10 business days
UK orders over £50
Free shipping
UK orders under £50
£4.99
Northern Ireland orders under £50
£5.99
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Description
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.
Herbivore dinosaurs grazed on low-lying vegetation such as ferns, club mosses, horsetails, and some conifers that grew on the surface.
Key features
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Comes back every year
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Loved by pollinators
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Great for shade
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In peat-free compost
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Low maintenance
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RHS Award (AGM)
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Fully hardy
Specs & details
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Botanical name
Matteuccia struthiopteris
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Plant size
1
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Established height
50-70cm
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Established spread
30-50cm
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Plant spacing
5 plants per m2
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Leaf colour
Green
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Habit
Upright
Clump-forming -
Life cycle
Perennial
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Hardiness
Fully hardy
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Years to establish
2-3 years
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Sunlight
Full shade
Partial shade
Dappled shade -
Position
Sheltered
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Suitable for
Large containers
Borders
Cottage gardens
Low maintenance gardens
Pots -
Soil acidity
Any
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Soil moisture
Damp
Free draining -
Soil type
Loam
Clay
Loam-based compost
Sandy -
Growing skill
Easy to grow
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Scented
No
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Pollinator-friendly
Yes
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Mouse resistant
No
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Rabbit resistant
Yes
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Deer resistant
Yes
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Toxicity
No report
Plant calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | July | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- Planting
- Flowering
Useful information
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Soak your Matteuccia struthiopteris roots in water for 3-6 hours prior to planting.
Plant your "Shuttlecock fern" bare roots into temporary pots with a multipurpose compost in spring and grow-on in a sheltered spot outdoors.
Choose a pot which comfortably fits the bare roots. Some have a noticeable crown which should be just below the soil surface with any top growth exposed.
Plant out into borders or permanent containers in late spring or early summer once in full growth. Choose a position in sun or shade depending on the variety.
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Orders placed before 1 March 2025
You can expect your order in Feb/March 2025Orders placed 1 March - 15 April 2025
You can expect your order in April 2025Orders placed 16 April - 15 May 2025
You can expect your order within 10 business days
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