Is Ostrich Fern deer resistant?
Matteuccia struthiopteris
Plant typeFernHardinessZones 3–8LightFull shade to part shadeMature height36–60 in
MaintenanceModerate
Native range25 US states
About Ostrich Fern
The tallest hardy fern, reaching shoulder height in damp ground, and the source of edible fiddleheads in spring. It runs by rhizome and will colonise, so give it room or contain it.
Soil and care
- Soil pH
- 5 to 6.5
- Drainage
- Consistently moist
- Water
- High
- Spacing
- 35 to 47 in apart
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Maintenance
- Moderate
Similar to Ostrich Fern
Other ferns with the same deer rating.
- Christmas FernPolystichum acrostichoidesZones 3–9Rarely damaged
- Cinnamon FernOsmunda cinnamomeaZones 4–9Rarely damaged
- Hayscented FernDennstaedtia punctilobulaZones 3–8Rarely damaged
- Holly FernCyrtomium falcatumZones 7–10Rarely damaged
- Japanese Painted FernAthyrium niponicumZones 4–9Rarely damaged
- New York FernThelypteris noveboracensisZones 3–8Rarely damaged
Where Ostrich Fern grows
Hardy across most of these 50 states on zone range alone. Mountain and coastal areas sit outside the ranges used here, so check your own zone before ordering.
- Pennsylvanianative
- New Jerseynative
- New Yorknative
- Connecticutnative
- Massachusettsnative
- Virginianative
- Marylandnative
- Michigannative
- Wisconsinnative
- Ohionative
- Indiananative
- Illinoisnative
- Minnesotanative
- Missourinative
- North Carolina
- Tennessee
- Georgia
- Texas
- Colorado
- California
- Oregon
- Washington
- New Hampshirenative
- Vermontnative
- Mainenative
- Rhode Islandnative
- Delaware
- West Virginianative
- Kentucky
- South Carolina
- Florida
- Alabama
- Mississippi
- Louisiana
- Arkansas
- Oklahoma
- Kansas
- Nebraskanative
- Iowanative
- North Dakotanative
- South Dakotanative
- Montana
- Wyoming
- Idaho
- Utah
- Nevada
- Arizona
- New Mexico
- Alaskanative
- District of Columbianative
Highlighted states are within its native range according to the USDA PLANTS database, where it is native to 25 US states in total.
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Every list Ostrich Fern belongs to.
Hardy in these zones
Common questions about Ostrich Fern
- Is Ostrich Fern deer resistant?
- Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris) is rated Rarely Damaged on the Rutgers NJAES four-tier scale. Deer almost always leave this alone.
- What hardiness zones does Ostrich Fern grow in?
- Ostrich Fern is hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8. Outside that range it will either not survive winter or will struggle with summer heat.
- Does Ostrich Fern grow in shade?
- Yes. Ostrich Fern tolerates full shade to part shade, which makes it one of the options for a shaded bed where deer also browse.
- How big does Ostrich Fern get?
- Mature height is roughly 36–60 in. Growth rate is fast.