Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Fern
  
Fern
  
Origin
Southeastern United States, South-Central United States, Texas
  
North America, Europe, Eastern Asia
  
Types
Not available
  
M. struthiopteris var. struthiopteris
M. struthiopteris var. pensylvanica
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
Cliffs, Forests, Rocky areas, Slopes
  
Forest margins, Roadsides, Terrestrial
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
6-9
  
2-8
  
AHS Heat Zone
Not Available
  
8-1
  
Sunset Zone
Not Available
  
A1, A2, A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
  
Habit
Clump-Forming
  
Thicket/Colonizing
  
Plant Size
  
  
Minimum Width
Not Available
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Non Flowering Plant
  
Not Available
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Non Fruiting Plant
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Compound
  
Lance shaped
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
  
Spring, Summer, Fall
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Shade, Partial shade
  
Partial Sun
  
Growth Rate
Medium
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Loam
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Average
  
Bloom Time
Not Available
  
All year
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
No
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Wet Site
  
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
  
Ground
  
How to Plant?
Bulbs, Rhizome division, Tubers
  
Divison, Spores
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water
  
Water Deeply, Water when soil is dry
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Loam
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Average
  
Sun Exposure
Full Shade, Partial shade
  
Partial Sun
  
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free, Red blotch
  
Red blotch
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought
  
Flowers
None
  
None
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Bold
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
Sometimes
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Butterflies, Flying insects
  
Hummingbirds
  
Allergy
Itchiness, Skin irritation
  
Skin irritation
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Borders, Hanging Basket, Mixed Border, Showy Purposes, Used as an interior landscaping species, Used for decorating walls, fences, gates, hedges, etc.
  
Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
No
  
Unknown
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Not Available
  
Bone strength
  
Part of Plant Used
Not Available
  
Whole plant
  
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant, Used for Landscaping
  
Showy Purposes
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
  
Bog Garden, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Wildflower
  
Botanical Name
DRYOPTERIS ludoviciana
  
MATTEUCCIA struthiopteris
  
Common Name
Southern wood fern
  
Fiddlehead ferns,
shuttlecock fern
  
In Hindi
southern wood fern
  
शुतुरमुर्ग फर्न
  
In German
südlichen Holz fern
  
Ostrich Fern
  
In French
sud dryoptéride
  
fougère à l'autruche
  
In Spanish
helecho de madera sur
  
avestruz helecho
  
In Greek
νότια φτέρη ξύλο
  
Στρουθοκάμηλος Fern
  
In Portuguese
samambaia de madeira do sul
  
Ostrich Fern
  
In Polish
południowej drewna paproci
  
Struś Fern
  
In Latin
Fern australi
  
struthionem Fern
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Tracheophyta
  
Filicinophyta
  
Class
Filicopsida
  
Polypodiopsida
  
Order
Polypodiales
  
Polypodiales
  
Family
Dryopteridaceae
  
Dryopteridaceae
  
Genus
Dryopteris
  
Matteuccia
  
Clade
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Number of Species
Not Available
  
Not Available