Summer Ferns 2025

Summer Ostrich Fiddleheads!

I had not paid attention to the Ostrich Ferns (Matteuccia struthiopteris) mid-summer, when there are so many ferns coming into the peak of their glory. But last week on a hike Randy & I noticed the new Ostrich fertile frond fiddleheads, which are developing now. The photo is of some of the Ostrich Fern fertile fiddleheads we saw, in an early stage of development. There are often several different stages in the same clump.

We all know the bright green fleshy edible fiddleheads of the sterile Ostrich Fern fronds, which are one of the early signs of a new fern season. The fertile fiddleheads are just growing up now, in the middle of the vase-shaped clump of old fertile fronds and new sterile ones. Unlike the edible sterile fiddleheads, these are like stiff strands of spaghetti unwinding, and don't appear to be enjoyable eating. I am not recommending you try them! As they mature they grow into beautiful braided fronds in a feathery shape and turn dark brown. They last through the winter in that hardened shape, and then release their spores early in the Spring before the sterile fronds develop.This is similar to what the fertile fronds of the Sensitive Ferns do as well. They are just starting to develop their fertile fronds now as well, but don't look as spectacular as these.

There are some ferns that continue to develop new fiddleheads through the growing season, but not many that are just developing new fertile fiddleheads now. So take the time to stop and take another close look at the Ostrich Ferns, you may find a special surprise!

Posted: to PV Fern News on Mon, Jul 7, 2025
Updated: Mon, Jul 7, 2025