We're offering you a 1, 2 or 3 Shuttlecock Fern Plants for £6.99, saving you up to 46% off Thompson and Morgan's's price of £12.99 (correct as of 03.03.2026).

Transform Shady Borders with the Shuttlecock Fern

Matteuccia struthiopteris, known as the Shuttlecock Fern or Ostrich Fern, is a robust deciduous perennial celebrated for its tall, upright fronds that fan out like a shuttlecock. Each plant can reach up to 1.5 metres in height, creating a lush, architectural statement in shaded or woodland gardens.

• Botanical Family: Onocleaceae
• Mature Height & Spread: Up to 1.5m high and 1m across when established
• Seasonal Interest: Fresh green fronds unfurl in spring and persist through summer, dying back gracefully in autumn
• Awarded RHS AGM: Proven garden performance and reliability

Why Choose Shuttlecock Fern?

• Striking Structure: The bold, upright fronds create drama in shady borders or alongside water features.
• Biodiversity Friendly: Offers shelter for insects and nesting sites for small birds.
• Low Maintenance: Once established, it needs little attention beyond occasional watering during dry spells.
• Tolerant & Resilient: Hardy throughout the UK (USDA zones 3–8); copes well with cold winters.

Growing Guide & Care Tips

• Light Requirements: Prefers partial to full shade; ideal under trees or in north-facing beds.
• Soil Preferences: Grows best in moist, humus-rich soil; tolerates clay and loamy soils with good drainage.
• Planting Time: Plant any time during spring or autumn while soil is workable.
• Irrigation: Keep soil consistently moist—mulch annually to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
• No Pruning Needed: Simply remove old fronds at ground level in late winter before new growth appears.
• Pest & Disease Resistance: Rarely troubled by pests or disease—an easy choice for low-maintenance gardens.

Design Ideas & Companion Plants

• Makes an impact in woodland schemes alongside hostas, astilbes, and heucheras.
• Adds texture near ponds or streams where soil remains damp.
• Mature clumps can be divided every few years to create new plants or fill larger areas.

FAQs

• When is the best time to plant Shuttlecock Ferns?
  The best time is early spring or autumn when the soil is moist and workable.
• How fast do these ferns grow?
  You'll see significant growth in the first season; mature size is usually reached within 2–3 years.
• What type of soil does it prefer?
  This fern thrives in moist, humus-rich soils but adapts well to most garden soils if not allowed to dry out completely.