Shuttlecock Fern
Matteuccia struthiopteris
Shuttlecock Fern is a perennial for groundcover, mid-border, suited to full sun to partial shade and clay, loam, acid soil or moist ground, flowering varies by climate.
| Type | Perennial |
|---|---|
| Mature height | 100 cm |
| Spread | 100 cm |
| Aspect | full sun to partial shade |
| Foliage | Deciduous |
| Hardiness | USDA 3a-7b, RHS H5 |
| Pollinator-friendly | No |
| Pet-safe | Not confirmed |
Where to use it in a border
At around 100 cm, it sits best along the front edge, where a low, spreading habit reads best. Give it about 100 cm of room to spread. It is hardy across USDA zones 3a to 7b and rated H5 by the RHS, so check it suits your area before planting.
It appears in our lists of shade, clay soil, acid soil, wet soil.
Border Builder uses Shuttlecock Fern's height, spread, soil, bloom months and companions to place it in a full border plan for your own conditions, on iPhone and iPad.
Flowering through the year
Worth knowing
- It copes with ground that stays wet, which most border plants will not.
- It tolerates acid soil but dislikes shallow chalk.
- It tolerates a shaded, north-facing spot.
Good companions
Plants that share its conditions and style, chosen to complement its place in the border:
- Allegheny Spurgeto edge in front
- Alumroot 'Palace Purple'to edge in front
- Appalachian Sedgeto edge in front
- Astilbe 'Visions'to edge in front
- Aucuba 'Gold Dust'for height behind it
- Azaleato flower when it does not