Athyrium Tennessee Ostrich Fern is a deciduous, non-flowering perennial offering 3 seasons of interest. Showy and long-lasting, this elegant fern has tall, plume-like, gracefully arching fronds. The large, lacy fronds emerge pale green in spring, with fertile, fresh-green fronds developing over summer.
An Athyrium pycnocarpon, commonly called silvery spleenwort, narrow-leaved spleenwort, and glade fern, Athyrium Tennessee Ostrich Fern has an upright, symmetric, vase-shaped habit. The plant spreads aggressively by creeping rhizomes, forming colonies of circular clumps over time. Typically grown as a groundcover, it is shown to best effect massed or grouped and is naturally well suited to moist woodlands and areas around ponds and streams. But it is perfect for adding fine, ferny texture underneath bigger shade plants and between deciduous trees. It also makes a nice specimen plant, suitable for containers.
Low maintenance, Athyrium Tennessee Ostrich Fern prefers full to dappled shade and organically rich, humusy, consistently moist, well-drained loams with a slightly acidic pH. But it tolerates a wide range of soils, including poor, rocky soils, and even dry soils, once established. It also tolerates full sun with consistent moisture, but fronds turn brown if moisture is too low. The plant is rabbit resistant and deer proof.
Plant the crown (where root meets the stem) level with the soil surface. The hole should be big enough to contain the roots without bending or circling, but not too deep; the bud must be on the soil surface.
A native plant, Athyrium Tennessee Ostrich is indigenous to North America, Quebec to Minnesota south to Louisiana and Georgia. Native plants are not only beautiful but also environmentally friendly. Naturally adapted to the climate and soil conditions of the region, they thrive without fertilizers or extra watering, once established. They also act as natural pest controls, reducing the need for pesticides in the garden. Landscaping with native plants promotes biodiversity and provides shelter and quality food for wildlife and pollinators, bringing gardens to life.
