MATTEUCCIA STRUTHIOPTERIS

Regal in its upright, vase shaped form, Ostrich Fern provides a commanding presence in the American Beauties garden. With its soft, green-gray, delicate fronds, this plant also introduces a touchability factor to a wide range of landscape locations from shade to sun. It prefers moist well-drained soil and thrives in shade but will be equally stunning in a sunny location if given a lot of moisture, like that available from a pond side or water garden side planting. Ostrich Fern almost looks like a small palm tree at times and its vase forming stems provide needed bird cover whether planted in sun or shade.