Matteuccia struthiopteris - Shuttlecock Fern - Plant in 2 L Pot

Please note: These deciduous ferns are beginning to die back for winter therefore we will be cutting them back to the crowns before dispatch as the fronds become too weak and floppy before falling away. This does not harm the plant in any way and will encourage more runners and new shoots for next spring. Ferns are a delight for any garden that can provide their basic requirements. They fill that space that few other plants will thrive in and at the same time bring colour and form to please. A rich, always moist but free draining, neutral or acid soil, with plenty of organic matter, in a shady location is ideal. A small amount of sun early or late in the day will not harm but may darken the colour of the foliage. Matteuccia struthiopteris is a RHS Award of Garden Merit winner which has erect rosettes to 1.5m in height, with lance-shaped, bright green, edible, sterile fronds surrounding shorter, brownish fertile fronds. At its very best in spring as the young shuttlecock fronds unfurl. A beautiful and very impressive fern! Easy to grow in dappled shade in most moist, reasonably fertile soils. Grows well on the edge of woodlands and at the margins of water features (not in the water). Matteuccia struthiopteris can be grown very successfully in pots and containers as long as you can reproduce the basic requirements, and especially the need for constant moisture. Use a good quality compost. Ferns generally require a constant feed of nutrients so please ensure you feed regularly as a hungry plant is a poor performer. We recommend Osmocote pro 8 - 9 month applied in the early spring as growth begins. One application gives all the nutrients the plant requires.