{"title":"Matteuccia","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe genus \u003cem\u003eMatteuccia\u003c\/em\u003e contains just three species of very large, deer-resistant, hardy garden ferns with a distinctive and highly ornamental shuttlecock shape. The tall tuft of fronds is very feather-like, hence the common name, ostrich fern. Of the three species (\u003cem\u003eM. orientalis, M. intermedia, and M. struthiopteris\u003c\/em\u003e), only the latter is widely available for sale. Matteuccia is a group of dimorphic ferns, which means they have separate fertile (spore producing) and infertile (leafy) fronds. The fertile fronds grow in the center of the clump and are an attractive, cinnamon-brown color.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003ch3\u003eOstrich Ferns in the Garden\u003c\/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eSome matteuccia plants, like \u003cem\u003eM. struthiopteris\u003c\/em\u003e, spread via stolons and will form a nice colony if conditions are favorable. The prefer a moist \"ferny\" site... partial sun and rich soil. In the wild, ostrich ferns grow next to bodies of water. Try combining them with other large, moisture-loving shade perennials such as astilbe, iris, and hosta. You can also inter-mix matteuccia with smaller perennials such as \u003ca title=\"trillium\" href=\"https:\/\/www.plantdelights.sbs\/collections\/trillium\"\u003etrillium\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca title=\"sanguinaria\" href=\"https:\/\/www.plantdelights.sbs\/collections\/sanguinaria\"\u003esanguinaria\u003c\/a\u003e that go dormant about the time matteuccia emerges.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eCheck out \u003ca title=\"Article on Matteuccia struthiopteris 'The King'\" href=\"..\/blogs\/articles\/matteuccia-struthiopteris-the-king-ostrich-fern\"\u003earticle on Matteuccia struthiopteris 'The King'\u003c\/a\u003e and our \u003ca title=\"Opens jlbg.org in a new tab\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.jlbg.org\/tag\/ostrich-fern\/\"\u003eblog posts about Ostrich fern\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"matteuccia-struthiopteris-the-king-ostrich-fern-large-ferns","title":"Matteuccia struthiopteris The King","description":"\u003cp\u003e(aka: Matteuccia 'Fanfare') Matteuccia 'The King' is an amazing selection of ostrich fern, distributed by the late Larry Mellichamp, who got it from NC's Powell's Garden around 1985. Matteuccia 'The King' is one of the few forms we've found that thrives in the hot, humid southeastern US, where normal ostrich ferns fear to tread. The 3' tall deciduous rosettes (6' tall under ideal conditions) spread vigorously via underground rhizomes. In nature, the deer-resistant ostrich ferns are found in moist ditches and lowlands, but also adapt well to drier garden conditions where they grow a bit shorter. Patches of Matteuccia struthiopteris 'The King' are highlighted by the 18\" brown fertile fronds that appear in fall and persist through the winter when they can be spray painted with some cool psychedelic colors to freak out your garden visitors.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch3\u003eMaintenance:\u003c\/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eOstrich fern is a low maintenance perennial when grown under the proper conditions. In fall, the sterile fronds will die back, leaving the rigidly upright fertile fronds. We like to remove the old sterile fronds, creating a more visually appealing patch for the winter months.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eSince it is a vigorous spreader, it should not be planted near other smaller, more defenseless plants, which will be quickly overrun.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003ch3\u003eGrowing Conditions:\u003c\/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eOstrich fern naturally grows in very damp soils including standing water. Despite this, it will actually thrive also in soils that have average moisture and even seasonal droughts.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eIn the wild, \u003ca title=\"ostrich ferns\" href=\"https:\/\/www.plantdelights.sbs\/collections\/matteuccia-ostrich-fern\"\u003eostrich fern\u003c\/a\u003e can be found growing in both sun and shade. It has good sun tolerance as long as the soil moisture is adequate. Typical ostrich fern will not survive the heat of the Southeast US, but the clone Matteucia 'The King' will thrive despite the intense summer heat.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003ch3\u003eGarden Value:\u003c\/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eBecause ostrich fern is a vigorous spreader, it can be used to fill a large space with an airy, relaxing texture. It can also be interplanted with other later emerging plants like native lilies or \u003ca title=\"amorphophallus - corpse flower\" href=\"https:\/\/www.plantdelights.sbs\/collections\/amorphophallus-corpse-flower\"\u003eamorphophallus\u003c\/a\u003e for some fascinating textural combinations.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Plant Delights Nursery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":21028664581,"sku":"8692","price":22.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1527\/8799\/files\/Matteuccia-struthiopteris-The-King.i-8692.s-61200.r-1_50244497-d25c-4c9b-84c2-db4e0a2bf1db.jpg?v=1790781464"},{"product_id":"matteuccia-orientalis","title":"Matteuccia orientalis","description":"\u003cp\u003e(aka: Pentarhizidium orientale) We have been growing this amazingly unique Chinese selection of fern since 2003 and wanted to share, but getting its spores to germinate has proven quite frustrating. Unlike other \u003ca title=\"See some of our 'other' ostrich ferns\" href=\"https:\/\/www.plantdelights.sbs\/collections\/matteuccia-ostrich-fern\"\u003eostrich ferns\u003c\/a\u003e, Matteuccia orientalis is a clump former, with outwardly arching deciduous sterile fronds as well as persistent upright fertile fronds that remain ornamental through the winter. Although Matteuccia orientalis likes moist, organic soils like other ostrich ferns, it has also proven well adapted to average to dry soils as well. We hope you like this as much as we do.\u003c\/p\u003e ","brand":"Plant Delights Nursery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":31387255799895,"sku":"15520","price":18.4,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1527\/8799\/files\/Matteuccia-orientalis.i-15520.s-66053.r-1.jpg?v=1791899136"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1527\/8799\/collections\/Matteuccia-struthiopteris-The-King-1900x350.jpg?v=1686062715","url":"https:\/\/www.plantdelights.sbs\/collections\/matteuccia-ostrich-fern.oembed","provider":"Plant Delights Nursery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}