Matteuccia Struthiopteris - Ostrich Fern Its grandeur as a plant is due to the size of its plumose‚ or feather-like‚ fronds․ The name of Tennessee ostrich fern was inspired by the resemblance of its fronds to feathers․ It needs considerable moisture‚ full shade‚ and rich soil․ Because it is not particularly tasty‚ it is often ignored by deer․ Does Great In Containers They can also be grown in a large planter or tub on a deck or balcony‚ provided they are not in full sun․ They are perennials and can be grown in the same lawns or gardens year after year․ They are tough enough to tolerate places where other crops may have trouble establishing themselves‚ such as in regions with winter frost or snow․ The Tennessee Ostrich Fern Growth Each year there are new fronds or crowns that grow around the fronds of the previous year‚ making the plant larger each year․ Once the plant has reached the size needed‚ it is easy to divide the plant down the center of the root ball and replant each half․ The leaves are also edible and the young leaves (fiddleheads) are considered a gourmet food and may be prepared as a cooked or steamed vegetable and used in dishes in place of other bitter greens like Swiss chard․ Tennessee Ostrich Fern Reaches 6 Feet Tall As a fern‚ this plant is relatively large․ The fern can grow to be anywhere from 3 to 6 feet tall․ Its fronds can be used as a background for growing annuals‚ or to separate different areas of a landscape․ Giant fern fronds can also be used for the foliage component of cut flower bouquets and arrangements․ Hardiness and Planting When they occur naturally‚ they grow in riverbeds or on sandbars‚ sending out runners that root in favorable spots and develop new crowns‚ forming colonies that cannot be destroyed by floodwaters․ However‚ care must be taken if it is planted in a sunny position, as it is likely to become sun-scorched, leaving ugly marks on its otherwise attractive fronds․ It is a popular garden plant and has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit․ The fiddleheads are edible and are a delicacy in some parts of the world․ These ferns have been harvested by growers for centuries‚ with ideal harvesting time being from the last days of April to early June․ Harvesting begins when the fern shoots first appear and ends when the height of the stem reaches about 6 in or 15 cm․ Giant ferns are picked when the tightly coiled leaves are still young and cooked like broccoli stems or other firm‚ green vegetables․ The taste‚ although different‚ is said to be similar to a mix of asparagus‚ artichokes, and green peas․ Hardy planting zone: U․S․D․A․ plant hardiness zones 3-7․ Its mature height is three to six feet with nearly the same spread․ Bloom: Non-flowering․ Sun or shade preferred: A shade fern‚ it will thrive in partial sun; in northern regions‚ it should be grown in full shade․ Does Great In Containers They can also be grown in a large planter or tub on a deck or balcony‚ provided they are not in full sun․ They are perennials and can be grown in the same lawns or gardens year after year․ The Tennessee Ostrich Fern Growth Each year there are new fronds or crowns that grow around the fronds of the previous year‚ making the plant larger each year․ Once the plant has reached the size needed‚ it is easy to divide the plant down the center of the root ball and replant each half․ The leaves are also edible and the young leaves (fiddleheads) are considered a gourmet food and may be prepared as a cooked or steamed vegetable and used in dishes in place of other bitter greens like Swiss chard․ Tennessee Ostrich Fern Reaches 6 Feet Tall As a fern‚ this plant is relatively large․ The fern can grow to be anywhere from 3 to 6 feet tall․ Its fronds can be used as a background for growing annuals‚ or to separate different areas of a landscape․ Giant fern fronds can also be used for the foliage component of cut flower bouquets and arrangements․ Hardiness and Planting When they occur naturally‚ they grow in riverbeds or on sandbars‚ sending out runners that root in favorable spots and develop new crowns‚ forming colonies that cannot be destroyed by floodwaters․ Tennessee Ostrich Fern Reaches 6 Feet Tall As a fern‚ this plant is relatively large․ The fern can grow to be anywhere from 3 to 6 feet tall․ Hardiness and Planting When they occur naturally‚ they grow in riverbeds or on sandbars‚ sending out runners that root in favorable spots and develop new crowns‚ forming colonies that cannot be destroyed by floodwaters․ These ferns have been harvested by growers for centuries‚ with ideal harvesting time being from the last days of April to early June․ Harvesting begins when the fern shoots first appear and ends when the height of the stem reaches about 6 in or 15 cm․ Giant ferns are picked when the tightly coiled leaves are still young and cooked like broccoli stems or other firm‚ green vegetables․ The taste‚ although different‚ is said to be similar to a mix of asparagus‚ artichokes, and green peas․ Hardy planting zone: U․S․D․A․ plant hardiness zones 3-7․ Its mature height is three to six feet with nearly the same spread․ Bloom: Non-flowering․ Sun or shade preferred: A shade fern‚ it will thrive in partial sun; in northern regions‚ it should be grown in full shade․ Giant ferns are picked when the tightly coiled leaves are still young and cooked like broccoli stems or other firm‚ green vegetables․ The taste‚ although different‚ is said to be similar to a mix of asparagus‚ artichokes, and green peas․ Hardy planting zone: U․S․D․A․ plant hardiness zones 3-7․ Its mature height is three to six feet with nearly the same spread․ Bloom: Non-flowering․ Sun or shade preferred: A shade fern‚ it will thrive in partial sun; in northern regions‚ it should be grown in full shade․ Hardy planting zone: U․S․D․A․ plant hardiness zones 3-7․ Its mature height is three to six feet with nearly the same spread․ Bloom: Non-flowering․ Sun or shade preferred: A shade fern‚ it will thrive in partial sun; in northern regions‚ it should be grown in full shade․
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