Matteuccia struthiopteris

Matteuccia struthiopteris

Beautiful, unfurling fronds of the shuttlecock fern grace the damper parts of Wisley in May, bringing a sense of freshness and giving a green foil to the colourful plants that surround them. Explore the Wild Garden, Rock Garden and Battleston Hill to find them at their best, and should you fancy it, maybe buy one for your own garden from the Plant Centre.

Vital statistics

Common name

Shuttlecock fern, ostrich fern

Family

Woodsiaceae

Height & spread

1.7m (5.5ft) x 1m (3ft)

Form

Rhizomatous fern

Soil

Humus-rich, moist but well-drained neutral to slightly acid soil

Aspect

Partial or light dappled shade

Hardiness

Fully hardy

Matteuccia

This is a genus of three or four species of deciduous, terrestrial ferns commonly occurring in deciduous woodland in Europe, East Asia and North America.

In spring, the erect or creeping rhizomes produce lance-shaped, pinnate to two-pinnatifid sterile fronds in regular 'shuttlecocks'. These are followed in mid- and late summer by distinctive, smaller, more erect, darker, and longer-stalked fertile fronds, which persist over winter. 

Matteuccia struthiopteris

Matteuccia struthiopteris, sometimes known as ostrich feather or shuttlecock fern, is a native of Europe but is grown in this country as an ornamental, particularly favouring damp woodland. Once established, it can spread quite widely by underground rhizomes, even in less favourable, dry conditions.

It is appreciated for its shuttlecock-like plumes of pale green leaves which can grow to a height of 1m (3 ¹/₄ft) or more. The spore-bearing fronds are also quite distinctive, being stiffer and rather brush-like. They persist over winter but the green, sterile fronds die right back.

It spreads by horizontal rhizomes, producing separate 'shuttlecocks' 10-20cm (4-8in) from the parent plant. 

Cultivation

• Grow in humus-rich, moist but well-drained, neutral to slightly acid soil in partial or light shade. 
• Excellent for moist shade in a woodland garden, a damp border, or at the edge of a pond.

Propagation

• Sow spores at 15°C (60°F) as soon as ripe. Divide established clumps in early spring

AGM

The RHS Herbaceous Plant Committee awarded Matteuccia struthiopteris an Award of Garden Merit and described it as:

"A deciduous, stoloniferous fern forming colonies of erect rosettes to 1.5m tall, with lance-shaped, bright green, bipinnatifid sterile fronds surrounding shorter, brownish fertile fronds."