‘The King’ Ostrich Fern
Matteuccia struthiopteris ‘The King’
Plant Details
USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 3a-8b  Find Your Zone
Plant Type:Â Semi-Evergreen Perennial
Height at Maturity:Â 36-72″
Width at Maturity:Â 36-48″
Spacing:Â 36-48″ for mass plantings
Spacing:Â 36-48″ for mass plantings
Growth Habit / Form:Â Arching, Clumping, Upright
Growth Rate:Â Fast
Flower Color: Â None
Flower Size:Â NA
Flowering Period:Â NA
Flower Type:Â NA
Fragrant Flowers:Â NA
Foliage Color:Â Green
Fragrant Foliage:Â No
Berries:Â Â No
Berry Color:Â NA
Sun Needs:Â Part Shade to Full Shade
Water Needs:Â Â Average
Soil Type:Â Â Clay (amended), Loam, Sand (amended), SiltÂ
Soil Moisture / Drainage:Â Moist But Well Drained
Soil pH:Â 6.5 – 7.5 (Slightly Acid to Slightly Alkaline)
Maintenance / Care:Â Low
Attracts:Â Visual Attention
Resistances:Â Deer, Disease, Heat, Humidity, Insect, Moist Soil, Rabbit, Shade
Special Attributes
An Ostrich fern that stands up to the heat and humidity in the South? Yep. Meet ‘The King’, an incredible selection that thrives in our hot and muggy north-central Georgia gardens during summer unlike any other Matteuccia struthiopteris we’ve tried. You might also be happy to know that the deer won’t touch it, at least not in our gardens. A fast spreader with large attractive green fronds that reach 3 feet tall on average, but up to 6 feet tall with consistent moisture, it can be planted in shady to partially shaded contained areas to limit its spread or will colonize in moist ditches, lowlands and other areas with consistently moist soil. That said, it will adapt to average garden soils, and even under large trees, but just won’t grow quite as large. In fall, 18″ brown fertile fronds appear that persist through the winter.
Landscape & Garden Uses
Growing in impressive spreading clumps 3 to 6 feet tall, ‘The King’ Ostrich Fern is ideal for use in shady to partially shaded areas in the landscape or garden. We have it growing in contained areas close to the home as well as in moist woodland areas where it has spread to form large colonies. Excellent around the garden pond and along the waters edge along streambanks, creeks, the garden pond and other bodies of water. Despite being native to swamps, this hardy fern performs very well in normal garden conditions, even growing under large trees. Also a fine addition to Asian/Japanese gardens, rock gardens, tropical look gardens, and woodland shade gardens.
Growing PreferencesÂ
‘The King’ Ostrich Fern is easy to grow North American nartive fern that performs well in slightly acidic to alkaline, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soils of average fertility in part shade to shade. It will tolerate dry conditions for a period of time but prefers a moist soil. It prefers some shade or dappled shade throughout the day though morning sun with afternoon shade is fine.
Helpful Articles
Click on a link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant, fertilize, prune and water perennial ferns.
How To Plant Perennial Ferns
How To Prune Or Cut Back Perennial Fern Plants
How To Fertilize & Water Perennial Fern PlantsÂ
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