‘The King’ Ostrich Fern

Matteuccia struthiopteris ‘The King’

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 3a-8b Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Semi-Evergreen Perennial

Height at Maturity: 36-72″

Width at Maturity: 36-48″
Spacing: 36-48″ for mass plantings

Growth Habit / Form: Arching, Clumping, Upright

Growth Rate: Fast

Flower Color: None

Flower Size: NA

Flowering Period: NA

Flower Type: NA

Fragrant Flowers: NA

Foliage Color: Green

Fragrant Foliage: No

Berries: No

Berry Color: NA

Sun Needs: Part Shade to Full Shade

Water Needs: Average

Soil Type: Clay (amended), Loam, Sand (amended), Silt

Soil Moisture / Drainage: Moist But Well Drained

Soil pH: 6.5 – 7.5 (Slightly Acid to Slightly Alkaline)

Maintenance / Care: Low

Attracts: Visual Attention

Resistances: 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 Preferences

‘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 Plants

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