Fiddlehead Fern

Fiddlehead Ferns: Native Ostrich Ferns With Edible Spring Fiddleheads

Fiddlehead ferns are ostrich ferns (Matteuccia struthiopteris), a native shade fern whose tightly coiled spring shoots, called fiddleheads, are a prized seasonal vegetable. The plants grow 3 to 5 feet tall, are hardy in USDA zones 3–7 and thrive in part to full shade. TN Nursery ships bare-root fiddlehead fern plants, Buy 1 Get 1 Free.

The ostrich fern belongs to the family Onocleaceae and grows wild along rivers, stream banks and rich, moist woodlands across the northern United States and Canada, south through the Appalachian Mountains. Gardeners and cooks know the plant as fiddlehead fern, ostrich fern and shuttlecock fern. In April and May, each crown sends up a ring of green fiddleheads shaped like the scroll of a violin. The fiddleheads unroll into tall, feathery, bright green fronds arranged in an upright vase, like a shuttlecock, and in late summer the plant adds short, stiff brown fertile fronds in the center that stand through winter.

• Botanical name: Matteuccia struthiopteris, family Onocleaceae
• Also called: fiddlehead fern, ostrich fern, shuttlecock fern, fiddlehead plant
• Mature size: 3–5 feet tall (up to 6 feet in rich, wet soil), 2–3 feet wide per crown
• Foliage: feathery, bright green, vase-shaped fronds from spring to fall; brown fertile fronds stand through winter
• Edible fiddleheads: coiled spring shoots harvested in April and May and enjoyed cooked
• Best uses: shade gardens, woodland borders, stream banks, rain gardens, foundation plantings and edible landscapes
• Wildlife value: dense cover for frogs, toads and ground-nesting birds; rarely browsed by deer or rabbits
• What ships: bare-root plants in Buy 1 Get 1 Free, Buy 3 Get 2 Free, Buy 5 Get 3 Free and 25-plant wholesale bundles

What Are Fiddlehead Ferns?

Fiddlehead ferns are the young, tightly coiled fronds of a fern, and the fiddleheads sold for eating come from the ostrich fern, Matteuccia struthiopteris. The name comes from the curled tip, which looks like the scroll at the end of a fiddle.

Every fern unrolls from a fiddlehead, but the ostrich fern is the one gardeners and chefs grow for the table. Ostrich fern fiddleheads are about 1 inch across, bright green, with a smooth stem and a deep U-shaped groove on the inside, and they carry thin, papery brown scales that rub off easily. Fiddlehead ferns taste fresh and green, often compared to asparagus and young green beans.

Where Do Fiddlehead Ferns Grow Best?

Fiddlehead ferns grow best in part to full shade in rich, moist to wet soil that never dries out. Fiddlehead ferns also grow in more sun when the soil stays constantly moist, such as beside a pond or stream.

Ostrich ferns love humus-rich, slightly acidic soil and thrive in clay and in low, seasonally wet ground. Water weekly through the first summer and spread shredded leaves around the crowns. Fiddlehead ferns spread by underground runners and fill in quickly as a lush, dense colony, which makes the plant an excellent choice for covering a shady slope, a stream bank or the north side of a house.

How Do You Harvest and Cook Fiddleheads?

Harvest fiddleheads in spring while the coils are tight and 1 to 2 inches tall, picking about half of the fiddleheads from each crown so the plant stays vigorous. Rinse and cook fiddleheads before eating, by boiling for 15 minutes or steaming for 10 to 12 minutes.

Let a new planting grow for 2 to 3 seasons before the first harvest, so each crown is large and well rooted.

How Do You Plant Bare-Root Fiddlehead Ferns?

Plant bare-root fiddlehead ferns with the crown just at the soil surface and the roots spread 2 to 4 inches below, spacing plants 2 to 3 feet apart. Plant in fall or early spring for the fastest start.

At our Altamont, Tennessee nursery, TN Nursery digs fiddlehead ferns while they are dormant and ships them bare root, with no soil around the roots. Each plant arrives as a dormant crown with a cluster of roots and runners.

1. Soak the roots in water for 30 minutes to an hour.
2. Loosen the soil 8 to 10 inches deep and mix in compost or leaf mold.
3. Set the crown level with the soil surface and spread the roots outward.
4. Firm the soil and water deeply.
5. Mulch with 2 inches of shredded leaves and keep the soil moist.

A Buy 5 Get 3 Free pack of 8 ferns fills a 6-by-8-foot shade bed at 2-foot spacing, and the 25-plant bundle starts a long woodland border.

What Grows Well With Fiddlehead Ferns?

Spring woodland wildflowers and other native ferns grow well with fiddlehead ferns. Virginia bluebells and white trillium bloom among the unrolling fiddleheads in April. Jack-in-the-pulpit and mayapple share the same moist shade, and wild ginger carpets the ground between crowns. Mix in cinnamon fern and evergreen Christmas fern for varied texture. Browse more in our ferns and large ferns collections.

Planting & Growing Information

Botanical Name: Matteuccia struthiopteris
Plant Family: Onocleaceae
Ships: Bare root, dormant crowns
Planting Zone: 3–7
Height at Maturity: 3–5 feet, up to 6 feet in rich, wet soil
Spacing: 2–3 feet
Sun or Shade: Part to full shade; more sun with constant moisture
Water Needs: High; keep soil moist to wet
Soil: Rich, humus-rich, slightly acidic soil; adapts to clay and wet sites
Fiddlehead Season: April–May
Foliage Color: Bright green
Origin: Northern North America, Europe and Asia
Care: Mulch each fall with shredded leaves. Cut the old brown fronds to the ground in early spring before new fiddleheads appear.
Plant Attributes: Native, edible fiddleheads, fills in quickly, shade loving, thrives in wet soil, deer resistant

Fiddlehead Fern FAQ

How tall do fiddlehead ferns get?

Fiddlehead ferns grow 3 to 5 feet tall, and ostrich ferns reach up to 6 feet in rich, constantly moist soil.

Are fiddlehead ferns edible?

Yes. Ostrich fern fiddleheads are edible when cooked: rinse well, then boil for 15 minutes or steam for 10 to 12 minutes before serving.

When are fiddleheads in season?

Fiddleheads are in season in spring, usually April and May, for about 2 to 3 weeks while the coils are still tight.

Do fiddlehead ferns spread?

Yes. Fiddlehead ferns spread by underground runners and fill in quickly as a dense colony in moist shade.

Are fiddlehead ferns deer resistant?

Yes. Deer and rabbits rarely browse fiddlehead ferns, so ostrich ferns stay full in woodland gardens.

What zones do fiddlehead ferns grow in?

Fiddlehead ferns grow in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 7.

Grown and Shipped by TN Nursery

TN Nursery has grown hardy native plants since 1959, more than 65 years of experience, and has supplied plants to major U.S. landmarks like the Washington Monument and Arlington National Cemetery. At our Altamont, Tennessee nursery, we grow and ship native ferns like the fiddlehead fern to shade gardens across the country. Each order is dug and packed bare root so the crowns settle in quickly and send up fiddleheads in spring. Want to learn more first? Read The Enchanting Fiddlehead Fern, The Complete Guide to Growing Ostrich Ferns and The Ostrich Fern on our garden blog.