Fiddle Fern
Matteuccia struthiopteris
Last reviewed: August 2026
Matteuccia struthiopteris, the ostrich fern, thrives in part shade to full shade with consistently moist soil, forming upright shuttlecock-shaped fronds in woodlands and along streambanks throughout the eastern and midwestern United States.
Toxicity unknown
Fiddle Fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
part shade
Water
high
Size
24"–60" H × 24"–48" W
Bloom
N/A
Native to
AL, CT, DE, FL and 28 more states
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Ostrich fern is a large, elegant fern that forms graceful shuttlecock-shaped clumps of bright green fronds. It thrives in moist, shady areas and spreads slowly by underground rhizomes to create natural colonies. The fronds die back completely in winter, emerging fresh each spring.
Growing Fiddle Fern
Grow Fiddle Fern in part shade and high water. Mature plants reach 24 to 60 inches tall and spread 24 to 48 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Fiddle Fern is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.
Works well in: foundation, mid zone.
- Dies back completely in winter leaving bare spots
- Can spread beyond intended areas over time
Wildlife value
Provides shelter and nesting material for birds and small mammals. The dense fronds offer cover for wildlife, though as a fern it does not produce flowers for pollinators.
Common questions
- Does the ostrich fern produce flowers?
- No. Like all ferns, Matteuccia struthiopteris reproduces by spores rather than flowers, so it never blooms and does not attract pollinators.
- How much water does this fern need?
- It needs consistently moist to wet soil and does not tolerate drought well, so it does best near streambanks, in low woodland spots, or with regular supplemental watering.
- What light conditions does it prefer?
- Part shade to full shade suits it best. It can handle a bit of gentle morning sun but often scorches in hot, direct afternoon sun.
- Is the foliage evergreen?
- No. The fronds die back to the ground in fall and re-emerge from the crown each spring.
- Is Fiddle Fern HOA-friendly?
- Fiddle Fern is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
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