How to Plant and Grow Ostrich Fern

A staple plant of woodland gardens, the ostrich fern has large upright fronds resembling their namesake bird's feathers. Hardy in Zones 3-7, they create a backdrop for other plants and spread to quickly fill a garden space. Add them to fresh flower bouquets for a unique addition.

A unique trait of ostrich ferns, like a few other fern families, is these plants have separate fertile and sterile fronds. The sterile fronds have large, bright green leaves. Come fall, these leaves turn a bright golden color. While the barren leaves can reach impressive sizes of three or four feet tall, the fertile leaves generally reach only about two feet tall. The fertile fronds develop later, from the centers of the plants, and are much smaller and a deeper green. Eventually, they form clusters of spores on the backside of the fronds. Even through the winter months, the fertile fronds are held perfectly upright. Come spring, the fronds release their spores and eventually die back.

Where to Plant Ostrich Fern

Ostrich ferns need shady conditions for best growth. In general, ostrich ferns prefer cooler climates and struggle in warm southern climates.

Ostrich ferns thrive in shady wooded sites and locations near water. Use ostrich ferns in a shade border, a rain garden, as an understory plant in a woodland garden, or for erosion control along a slope.

How and When to Plant Ostrich Fern

Ostrich ferns should be planted in a shallow hole that with room for their roots to spread. The root crown should sit just above soil level.

Plant in spring or fall. It can take several years for ostrich fern to become established. Once mature, though, the plant can naturalize in your landscape.

Ostrich Fern Care Tips

In their ideal growing conditions, ostrich ferns can be aggressive spreaders. Keep this in mind when planting, as they can quickly fill a garden space and may outcompete less robust neighbors.

Light

These ferns are tougher than most other ferns and can tolerate a decent amount of sunlight, especially in cooler temperatures and with ample moisture. Too much sun may burn leaves and turn them yellow.

Soil and Water

Ostrich ferns prefer moist soil. It's best to plant them in rich, organic ground that's somewhat acidic. Keep them evenly damp to almost wet for lush growth. Avoid letting this fern dry out, which leads to browning and drying of the foliage. Dry soil also results in slower, smaller growth. The more sun they're in, the more moisture they require.

Temperature and Humidity

In warmer climates, any more than part sun can lead to foliage burn and require more water. Ostrich fern is a winter-hardy native that can handle the frigid winters down to zone 3. Humidity is not an issue for this tough plant.

Fertilizer

Add some compost or organic matter to your soil before planting and ostrich fern should do just fine. If your soil is poor, a monthly feeding withg a 20-20-20 balanced fertilizer during the growing season will give your plant a boost.

Pruning

When winter is almost over, trim dead and misshapen fronds from ostrich ferns. During growing season, shape ostrich ferns by periodically pruning them.

Potting and Repotting Ostrich Fern

Ostrich ferns need a large enough container to grow into as they get larger. They thrive in nutrient-rich clay soil with an acidic pH. Keep them out of direct light and water regularly. Repot plants into the next container size when they become rootbound, and the plant spreads out in the container. Flourishing ostrich ferns in containers make impressive houseplants.

Pests and Problems

There aren't many problems with native ostrich ferns. It can become aggressive because it spreads readily by rhizomes, so trim and regularly pull up stray plants to keep it in control. Ostrich fern is deer resistant.

How to Propagate Ostrich Fern

Ostrich ferns spread via underground rhizomes and can be controlled by regular division to keep them in check. The best time to divide ostrich ferns is in early spring, just as new growth begins to emerge. Dig up an entire clump with roots intact. Divide clump into sections with roots and fronts attached. Replant sections at the same depth as the original clump in a chosen location.

Ostrich Fern Companion Plants

Rush

The corkscrew rush loves wet or boggy conditions. It adds an architectural accent in planters, beds, and moist borders. It's technically leafless, with green cylindrical stems pointed at the tip. Plant rush alongside streams and ponds, though they tolerate drier conditions elsewhere. It's excellent in container gardens. Zones 4-10

Iris

Named for the Greek goddess of the rainbow, iris comes in a rainbow of colors and many heights. All have the classic, intricate flowers, constructed of three upright "standard" petals and three drooping "fall" petals, which are often different colors. The falls may be "bearded" or not. Various cultivars bloom a second time in late summer. Zones 3-9

Anemone

Anemones are lovely, delicate flowers atop slender stems, giving them their common name—windflower. Depending on the type, anemones bloom in spring, summer, and fall, with slightly cupped flowers in rose, pink, or white rising over deeply lobed foliage. Plants grow best in partial shade but tolerate full sun in northern regions. Zones 4-8

Garden Plan for Ostrich Fern

Woodland Garden Plan

Filled with easy-care shade plants, this design is perfect under a tree's canopy.