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Ostrich fern is often used for landscaping large areas, in landscape design, and simply to decorate the space around the house. It feels great in open ground, without requiring special care or special conditions.
What does the Ostrich Feather Fern look like?
Ostrich feather fern is a perennial herbaceous plant, reaching up to 1.5-2 m in height and more than 1 m in diameter. The root processes of the ostrich are long, creeping, and have a brown-black color with scales on the surface.
The branches of the fern are arranged in a circle from the rhizome. Thanks to their simultaneous growth, the plant develops an even, beautiful shape. The fronds look like ostrich feathers, which is why this type of fern received its corresponding name.
There are two types of branches - sterile and spore-bearing. The former can reach 2 m in height and about 20 cm in width, have a bright green color and a pinnately dissected structure.
It is they who form the outer high funnel-ring, in the center of which, by mid-summer, low (about half a meter), dense fronds with a darkish color, bearing sporangia, develop. These branches have a much smaller number of leaves compared to sterile ones, but they can remain on the bush for several years without falling off in winter.
Under natural conditions, ostrich feather fern can be found in mixed forests with high humidity, as well as in close proximity to water bodies. It is widespread in the European part of Russia, the Far East, and Ukraine.
Ostrich species
In the biological description of the ostrich fern, it is customary to distinguish 2 main types: ordinary and oriental. Externally, both varieties are very similar, but they also have some distinctive features.
Oriental
The eastern ostrich or Matteuccia orientalis can be found in the Sakhalin region, Korea or China. In its structure it is similar to an ordinary fern - tall, strong branches of the first order and spore-bearing brown fronds in the center. But the eastern ostrich is not as tall as its relative - on average no more than 1.3 m, and has fewer leaves, while the size of the leaves themselves is somewhat larger.
An important difference between the species is that it is less tolerant of unfavorable environmental conditions. The plant needs regular watering and protection from drafts and frost. Spore-bearing fronds die off in the winter.
Ordinary
The common ostrich fern is distinguished by its high endurance and unpretentiousness.It develops quite quickly, tolerates frost well and does not require constant care. The only requirement for its growth is sufficient and regular watering.
Its distribution area is quite extensive, due to the fact that the plant thrives on almost any soil and in various climatic conditions.
The common ostrich has powerful, tall fronds of rich green color and a powerful root system. It is this variety that is used to decorate garden plots and landscaping areas.
How does the Ostrich Feather Fern reproduce?
Ferns are among the oldest plants that arose even before the appearance of bees. This is precisely why this plant lacks flowers - it does not need pollination and seed development.
There are 2 ways to propagate ferns:
- Vegetative – by separating part of the root with sprouts and buds.
- With the help of spores. Spores develop on fronds located in the center of the rosette. They are collected at the end of summer and planted in a small closed container, regularly watered and ventilated. After 1-2 years, when the sprouts have become stronger, they can be planted directly on the site.
Planting and caring for ostrich fern
Planting an ostrich fern and subsequently caring for the plant is not particularly difficult. If you follow simple rules, the plant will feel great in almost any area and delight you with fluffy green leaves.
Landing dates
Planting of shoots using the vegetative method of propagation is carried out either in the first spring months before the leaves appear, or at the end of summer, when sporulation occurs.
If ostrich fern is propagated from spores, then the strengthened plants are transferred to open ground in the spring, when the weather is warm.
Site selection and soil preparation
Both a shaded area and a well-lit place are suitable for growing ferns. It should be borne in mind that with a large amount of sunlight, you should not count on strong growth of shoots (their height in this case will not exceed 1 m) and rich color of the leaves. The leaves of ostrich, which grow in shaded areas with high humidity, acquire the most luscious color.
When choosing a site, you need to pay attention to the fact that the root system of the plant grows very quickly and within a year it may end up at a distance of several meters from the main bush.
As for the soil, sandy, dry soil is not the best option. Such soil will have to be watered frequently to create comfortable conditions for plant growth. Otherwise, ferns have no requirements for soil composition. It can fully develop on both fertile and infertile lands, as well as on soils with any acidity.
How to plant correctly
The rules for planting ostrich birds depend on which method is chosen for reproduction. With the vegetative method, a part of the rhizome 20-30 cm long is taken. In this case, the shoot must have at least 2 buds. It is planted to a depth of about 5 cm at a distance of at least 50 cm from other ferns.
Growing ostrich from spores is a labor-intensive but more effective process. The spores are collected in August and planted in a disinfected peat mixture. At the same time, the collected spores do not have to be planted immediately; they can be stored for several years.The container with the planted spores is covered with a strong transparent lid and left for a while, not forgetting to regularly ventilate and water.
After a few weeks, when the spores germinate, the lid can be removed. The grown fern is picked and planted in separate containers. At home, seedlings are grown for at least 2 years and only then taken to the site.
It is better to plant ferns in groups of 5-6 pieces at a distance of at least 40-80 cm from each other. For planting, it is recommended to use a pattern similar to the natural growth conditions of the ostrich bird, with triangles. Such planting will ensure subsequent independent vegetative propagation of the fern.
Rules of care
Ostrich is a plant that does not require significant care. If the site as a whole meets the needs of the plant, then with minimal care it will delight the eye with lush green bushes.
Watering
Sufficient humidity is perhaps the only mandatory requirement when growing ostrich feathers. The plant needs regular moderate watering. If the soil is very dry or the weather is hot, then the fern must be watered abundantly, and the above-ground part must also be sprayed with the rain method.
Top dressing
The ostrich does not feel the need to apply additional fertilizers. However, some gardeners note a good response to the periodic use of organic and mineral fertilizers.
Pruning, shelter for the winter
The plant does not need pruning. Instead, the ostrich bird needs to be thinned out every 3-4 years, as it grows quite quickly. To prevent the appearance of fern thickets, it is necessary to remove excess shoots.
Ostrich feathers tolerate low temperatures well, so they usually do not require any preparation for winter. If the winter is expected to be very cold, then covering materials can be used.
Application in landscape design
The main use of the ostrich is in the landscape design of individual plots or park areas. The photo shows that the ostrich feather fern can be a decoration for almost any composition. It can be planted among stones and boulders or on the banks of ponds.
Ostrich goes well with tall, large flowers, like irises or peonies.
When grown in shady areas, ostrich can keep company with hostas or daylilies.
You can often find ferns next to early spring flowers - tulips and daffodils; as the ostrich fern grows, it covers the already faded plants.
As for the undesirable neighborhood, it is not recommended to plant ferns next to light-loving low flowers (zinnias, petunias, marigolds), since the ostrich will block the plantings from the sun's rays. It should also be remembered that the plant has a highly developed, rapidly growing rhizome, which can crush weaker neighbors.
Diseases and pests
Another undoubted advantage of the ostrich fern is its high resistance to various diseases, as well as the effects of insect pests.
The only danger is dense plantings combined with high humidity. Under such conditions, fungal infection is possible.It appears as dark spots on the leaves. If detected, remove and destroy the affected shoots, and spray the remaining plants with a fungicide.
Conclusion
Ostrich fern is a very beautiful and unpretentious plant that can decorate any site or territory. Growing an ostrich plant yourself will not be difficult; even a novice gardener can do it. The plant has lush, bright green leaves and goes well with most garden flowers.
