Matteuccia struthiopties(shuttlecock fern )
£8.95
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This is not native to the British Isles but in certain areas it has become naturalised. Bright green shuttle-cocks of sterile fronds are sent up in the spring almost vertically, fertile fronds are produced later in the year. These fertile fronds do not look anything like regular fronds, they could be mistaken for flower spikes but they soon turn brown as the spores develop. It is quite vigorous plant spreading on underground rhizomes sending up new plants at intervals , these new plants are easily propagated by slicing the rhizome and replanting. It has almost no stipe, producing pinnae from very close to the ground. The plant prefers a moist to wet acid to neutral soil where it can reach maximum height and given time they will form a good sized colony.