Shuttlecock Fern — Ferns
Matteuccia
Sun or part shade, regular watering — hardy through cold winters.
- Plant out
- Mar
- Sun
- Part sun
- Water
- High
- Difficulty
- Demanding
- Hardiness
- H5
- Height
- 100–150 cm
- Spacing
- 250 cm
- Pets
- Safe around pets
Growing notes
Grows to 1-1.5 metres. Space about 150-250cm apart.
Safe around pets
The young fiddleheads are eaten in some countries, but only after thorough cooking, and raw or lightly cooked ones have poisoned people: sauteed, parboiled and microwaved fiddleheads have caused nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach cramps within hours. Never let anyone eat them raw, and if they are eaten at all they must be boiled for 15 minutes or steamed for 10 to 12 minutes - a quick fry in a pan is not enough.
→ NHS 111, or your GP.