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Ostrich Fern

$4795 $10795
Size: 1 Gallon

Your Plants are Guaranteed to Grow

Your plants are guaranteed to arrive happy & healthy with our 1 Year Warranty. Your order will arrive healthy and stay healthy while they adapt to your climate. If your tree arrives damaged or dies within 30 days, we'll replace it for free. If it dies after 30 days, but before 1 year, we will replace it for just 50% of the current price.

Free Shipping on All Orders

Relax... we've got you covered with free shipping on every order! We ship out so many huge plants, we've negotiated a low rate with our carriers... and we pass those savings on to you! Your plants will ship out the next business day... expertly packed so that your plants will arrive happy and healthy!

Is Now a Good Time to Plant?

Yes! Fall is one of the best times to plant!

Landscaping experts often recommend planting in fall instead of waiting until spring. Here’s why:

  • Cooler weather puts less stress on newly planted trees and shrubs.
  • Fall soil is still warm, which helps roots grow and get established.
  • Cooler temperatures mean less water is lost through the leaves, making it easier for plants to stay hydrated.
  • Even after top growth slows for winter, roots continue developing below ground.
  • Fall weather often brings more rain and less heat, making new plants easier to care for.
  • By spring, your plants already have a head start. Their established roots can support strong new leaves, branches, and flowers.
  • Trees planted in spring must establish their roots while also dealing with rising temperatures and summer heat.

Plant this fall, and your trees can spend the cooler months getting settled instead of waiting until spring to get started!

Planting your Ostrich Fern
  • Light: Partial to full shade. Avoid hot, direct sun, especially in southern zones.
  • Soil: Rich, loamy, and consistently moist soil is ideal. Add compost if your soil is sandy or clay-heavy.
  • Water: Keep the soil moist, especially during hot or dry spells. While established plants can handle brief dry periods, consistent moisture brings out their best.
  • Spacing: Space plants 2 to 3 feet apart to allow room for spreading.
  • Mulching: A layer of mulch helps retain soil moisture and adds nutrients as it breaks down.

 If you’re planting Ostrich Ferns in containers, choose a large pot with excellent drainage. Even though they love moisture, they don’t like standing water. Water often and deeply during hot weather.

What Customers say about the Ostrich Fern:

The Ostrich Fern thrives in Zones 5-9

Growing Zones for the Ostrich Fern

If you live in the green area above, we recommend the Ostrich Fern.

Your Growing Zone
Recommended Zones 5-9
Mature Height 3-4 ft.
Mature Width 3-4 ft.
Cannot Ship To AZ, OR
Sunlight Bright, Indirect Light
Botanical Name Matteuccia struthiopteris

Plants that Make a Difference

For 20+ years, our team has shipped healthy, established plants to gardeners like you- all across the country. Every plant is selected and cared for by our plant experts before it ships to your door.

  • 20+ Years Experience

  • Superior Quality

  • Free Shipping on All Orders

  • Guaranteed to Grow

Overhead view of the ostrich fern plant.

Beware- not all Ostrich Ferns are the same.

Be sure to get superior ferns, grown by experts.

Better Roots Make Stronger Plants: Some nurseries send you "bare root" ferns to save on shipping. Even worse, others have started digging them right out of the ground before shipping. This causes major transplant shock and long-term damage. We send you Ostrich Ferns in soil-filled containers- ensuring a well-developed root system that will explode with growth!

Healthy Plants: We've seen other nurseries grow tall ferns in tiny pots to save on shipping. This leads to a "root bound" plant, where the roots have outgrown their pot- they cannot absorb water and nutrients. They quickly dry out during shipment, leading to an unhealthy plant.

Green curled foliage of the ostrich fern, macro view.

The Ostrich Fern turns shady spots into a lush woodland retreat with tall, feathery fronds shaped like ostrich plumes.

  • Tall, vase-shaped fronds 3-4 ft. tall and wide
  • Thrives in part to full shade where little else will grow
  • Spreads naturally by underground rhizomes to fill large shady areas
  • Loves moist soil and is generally deer resistant; hardy in zones 5-9

Not all plants are created equal

The Difference Is in the Roots

Every plant we ship has grown in a nursery container with its roots protected, so it arrives healthy, established and ready to thrive in your yard.

A full, branched Nationwide Plants tree in a nursery pot next to a thin bare-root tree with exposed roots Ours: container grown Theirs: bare root
Nationwide Plants Other Nurseries
How it's grown Grown in a nursery container, roots protected the whole time Pulled or dug from the field, tearing fragile roots
How it arrives Arrives in its pot with soil intact Arrives bare root, exposed and drying out
Before shipping Growing naturally until it ships Held dormant in a cooler, then shocked by a hot shipping box
Root health Strong, well-developed roots with room to grow Crammed into a small pot until it's root bound
Height Measured from the top of the soil Often includes the pot and roots
After planting Settles in quickly with less transplant shock Arrives stressed and can take years to recover, if it does

The height you see is the height you plant.

We measure every plant from the top of the soil, not the bottom of the pot. Many nurseries include the pot and roots, so a "5–6 ft." tree from them might stand only 4 ft. tall once it's planted.

Comparisons reflect common practices across the online plant industry, not any single company.

Interesting growth form of the ostrich fern plant with closeup of the textured foliage.

Honest Measurements: Some nurseries measure plants including the pot and roots, so the plant you receive is much smaller than you expected. We measure all of our plants from the soil line, so the height you see is what you can expect after planting.

From our nursery to your door

How We Ship Your Plants

Every order is hand-selected, watered and carefully packed so it arrives healthy and ready to plant. Here's what happens after you place your order.

  1. Hand-Picked for You

    Our team selects the best plant available for your order. For privacy trees, that's the tallest and fullest. For fruit trees, it's the best branched.

    Why it matters: Many online nurseries ship whatever is next in the row.

  2. A Deep Drink Before the Trip

    Every plant gets a thorough watering right before it's packed, so it starts the journey fully hydrated.

  3. Roots Sealed In

    We wrap the pot and roots in plastic to lock in moisture, so your plant has water to drink all the way to your door.

    Why it matters: Bare-root plants are often shipped with their roots exposed and drying out.

  4. Braced for the Ride

    Cardboard inserts are secured inside every box to hold your plant in place, so it won't slide, tip or get damaged in transit.

  5. Shipped Only by FedEx

    We ship your trees exclusively with FedEx. We've found they deliver the fastest and handle live plants the most gently.

And if anything goes wrong, every plant is backed by our 1 Year Warranty.

Healthy Roots Make a Huge Difference

  • Never buy bare-root plants. These trees are starved of nutrients, and have a low survival rate.
  • Beware of nurseries cut corners by growing in small pots. These "rootbound" plants are weak, struggle to absorb nutrients, and die quickly after planting.
  • Some nurseries try to sell oversized plants, but chop off vital roots so they can cram the rootball into a narrow box to save on shipping!

You Want Ostrich Ferns Grown by Experts

Some nurseries ship small, weak ferns grown in tiny pots to save money. These "root bound" plants struggle after planting and take longer to fill out.

Nationwide Plants only sends you strong Ostrich Ferns, selected and cared for by our plant experts, with healthy, developed root systems. That means they settle in quickly and start filling in your shady spots sooner.

Read more about the Ostrich Fern

Bring Lush Elegance to Shade with the Ostrich Fern

If you’ve been searching for a way to transform shaded spaces in your landscape into a dramatic, green retreat, the Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris) delivers in every way. With its tall, upright fronds and natural woodland charm, this fern instantly evokes the feeling of a lush forest hideaway—no fussy maintenance or sunlight required.

Whether you want to soften the lines of a shaded fence, fill in a cool, damp garden bed, or create a peaceful nook by a pond, the Ostrich Fern is your go-to solution for visual impact and natural serenity.

Plant Highlights: What Makes the Ostrich Fern Stand Out

  • Feathery Fronds Up to 4 Feet Tall
    These aren’t your average ground covers. Ostrich Ferns produce towering fronds that fan out in a vase-like shape, mimicking the look of ostrich plumes. This gives them an architectural quality that few other ferns can match.
  • A Superstar in Shade
    Many plants struggle in low-light areas, but Ostrich Ferns thrive in partial to full shade, bringing vivid green color where little else will grow.
  • Moisture-Loving and Hardy
    Ostrich Ferns adore moisture and will flourish in consistently damp conditions. They’re a natural fit for rain gardens, streambanks, or any spot that stays moist and shady.
  • Spreads Naturally—Let it Fill In
    Once established, this fern spreads via underground rhizomes to form a dramatic mass of foliage. Perfect for creating naturalized settings with little effort.
  • Cold Hardy & Reliable
    Native to North America and cold-hardy in USDA Zones 3-9, Ostrich Ferns die back in winter and return even fuller each spring. Year after year, you’ll get that reliable burst of green exactly where you want it.

Why You’ll Want Ostrich Ferns in Your Landscape

You’ll Love the Way It Transforms Shade

Shaded areas can be tricky to work with, especially if you’re tired of seeing bare soil, struggling perennials, or sparse groundcovers. Ostrich Ferns not only tolerate shade—they bring it to life. The tall, lacy fronds catch the light and sway gently in the breeze, creating a soft, layered look that turns shady areas into eye-catching focal points.

Minimal Care, Maximum Impact

After planting, you’ll find that Ostrich Ferns quickly become one of the easiest, most rewarding parts of your landscape. With very little care, they’ll return each spring, growing denser and more impressive over time. There's no deadheading, pruning, or constant fertilizing—just water consistently, especially in dry periods, and you’re set.

Creates a Naturalized, Woodland Feel

Ostrich Ferns are fantastic for gardeners who love a more natural aesthetic. Their ability to spread and fill in large shaded spaces makes them ideal for woodland gardens or native plant areas. The look is soft, organic, and timeless.

Great for Groupings or Containers

While they shine in the ground, Ostrich Ferns also perform beautifully in large containers, where their upright growth and texture can anchor a shaded patio or balcony arrangement. Just keep the soil moist, and they’ll do the rest. Note: When planting Ostrich Ferns in containers, opt for a large pot that offers excellent drainage. These ferns enjoy consistent moisture but are sensitive to standing water, so good drainage is essential.

Placement Ideas for Maximum Visual Effect

  • Woodland Gardens: Let them mingle with hostas, astilbes, and native wildflowers for a layered, natural look.
  • Along Water Features: Their love of moisture makes them ideal companions for backyard ponds or streams.
  • Rain Gardens: Help manage runoff while adding beauty to areas that hold water.
  • Shady Borders: Use them to add height and structure beneath trees or in the shadow of buildings.
  • Large Shade Containers: An unexpected but effective use—give your patio or porch a forest-floor feel.

Interesting Facts About Ostrich Ferns

  • Edible Shoots (Fiddleheads): In early spring, the young shoots of Ostrich Ferns—called fiddleheads—are considered a seasonal delicacy in some parts of North America. While harvesting for eating requires proper identification and preparation, it’s a fun botanical feature for those interested in edible landscaping.
  • Prehistoric Roots: Ferns are among the oldest plants on earth. The Ostrich Fern brings that sense of ancient, enduring beauty into your garden, echoing the calm and continuity of nature through millennia.
  • Native and Wildlife Friendly: Being a North American native, the Ostrich Fern plays well with your local ecosystem. It provides shelter for small creatures and works well in pollinator-friendly gardens as a non-competing background plant.
  • Deciduous but Dignified: Though it dies back in winter, this fern leaves behind a neat garden bed—no messy cleanups or dead sticks. And once the soil warms in spring, it bursts back into life with incredible vigor.

A Perfect Fit for These Gardeners

The Ostrich Fern is ideal for:

  • Gardeners with shady yards or wooded areas
  • Anyone who wants low-maintenance, perennial foliage
  • People designing naturalized landscapes or native plant gardens
  • Fans of dramatic foliage with a soft texture
  • Anyone needing a moisture-loving plant for tricky wet spots

Turn Shade Into a Showplace

The Ostrich Fern is a dependable, dramatic, and lush plant that brings a forest-like feeling to any garden. Whether you’re just starting out or you’re a seasoned gardener looking to fill a tricky spot, this fern rewards you with year-round beauty—returning stronger and fuller with each passing year.

By adding this timeless plant to your landscape, you’re not just filling space—you’re creating a calming, green sanctuary that feels like a deep forest escape right outside your door. Whether you’re going for elegance, ease, or a touch of wild beauty, the Ostrich Fern delivers.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Ostrich Fern

How tall does Ostrich Fern get?

Ostrich Fern grows 3 to 4 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide. Its tall, feathery fronds rise in a vase-like shape that resembles ostrich plumes, giving it an architectural presence that few other ferns can match in shady beds, woodland gardens, and along ponds or streams.

Does Ostrich Fern grow in full shade?

Yes, Ostrich Fern grows well in partial to full shade. Avoid hot, direct sun, especially in southern zones, because strong sun scorches the fronds. It is ideal under trees, on the north side of buildings, and in shady borders where little else will grow.

What zones does Ostrich Fern grow in?

Ostrich Fern is listed for USDA Zones 5 to 9. It dies back in winter and returns each spring, often fuller than before. It performs best where summers are not extremely hot, so in the warmer end of its range give it deep shade and steady moisture.

How much water does Ostrich Fern need?

Ostrich Fern needs consistently moist soil, especially during hot or dry spells. It thrives in rain gardens, along streambanks, and in damp shady spots. Established plants can handle brief dry periods, but steady moisture keeps the fronds lush and green all season.

How far apart should I plant Ostrich Ferns?

Space Ostrich Ferns 2 to 3 feet apart to give them room to spread. They expand by underground rhizomes and gradually fill in to form a dramatic mass of foliage. Wider spacing works for a naturalized look, while closer spacing fills an area faster.

Does Ostrich Fern spread?

Yes, Ostrich Fern spreads by underground rhizomes and forms colonies over time. That makes it excellent for filling large shaded areas and naturalized woodland gardens. In smaller beds, you may need to remove unwanted offshoots each spring to keep it in bounds.

What soil is best for Ostrich Fern?

Ostrich Fern grows best in rich, loamy soil that stays consistently moist. If your soil is sandy or heavy clay, mix in compost before planting. A layer of mulch helps retain moisture and adds nutrients as it breaks down around the roots.

Can Ostrich Fern grow in a container?

Yes, Ostrich Fern can grow in a large container placed in shade. Choose a big pot with excellent drainage, since it loves moisture but does not tolerate standing water. Water often and deeply during hot weather, because containers dry out much faster than the ground.

Are Ostrich Fern fiddleheads edible?

Yes, young Ostrich Fern fiddleheads are eaten as a spring delicacy in parts of North America, but they must be correctly identified and thoroughly cooked before eating, as raw or undercooked fiddleheads can cause illness. Harvest only a few from each established plant so it stays healthy.

Is Ostrich Fern deer resistant?

Ostrich Fern is generally deer resistant, as deer tend to avoid most ferns. That makes it a reliable choice for woodland gardens and shady borders where hostas and other favorites get eaten. It pairs beautifully with hostas, astilbes, and native wildflowers.
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