I got two nice size clumps of Ostrich fern from my parents' house, and they are having a bit of a stressful adjustment to my side yard. The wind has already taken out a few of the tall fronds, and the roots are trying their best to take hold. The leaflets have lightened considerably from a dark green to light green.
![ostrich fern transplant shock ostrich fern transplant shock](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvvndeLAFCAQ0PjsNUBPiltqaBbk410PRfq-h8jMjP739mjmzzh1qxaT9sggxt0miT6PNalom_lw9fvJ1yit5MUOaNsmKI2Ic0-FjosJWi7R6atZrdE2yNvJOa_cfRKwwerjix-q9rzoQ/s640/ostrich+fern+transplant+shock.JPG) |
Ostrich fern - Matteuccia struthiopteris 3 weeks after transplant |
I trimmed off the dead and damaged fronds, and I noticed at the base growing from the crown at the bottom little baby fronds - but not the typical full sized fiddlehead of a mature frond unrolling. I wonder if the plant is reverting back to a juvenile stage before trying to put out new full size fronds?
![ostrich fern transplant shock ostrich fern transplant shock](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6kmDsq9EI8kIHZxx9Ti1YGImPlo2_bk1pmZ-PRmIN6NlZDu2cehWss1UdBdiNBjVJ2wtVDL0blbRQCA2gSrjp6eNdONlua9rAc00gJLdOE7ggcCSLOxwTqlFveZpJzpXIvxtpnh8Ft90/s640/damaged+ostrich+fern.JPG) |
Ostrich fern - Matteuccia struthiopteris damaged by wind and transplant shock |
![Ostrich fern - Matteuccia struthiopteris Ostrich fern - Matteuccia struthiopteris](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih0fgQh87b9TRpyjEcnsD4XI7FQDF-pNnvwCVb9u_OGZ8U210oePkynakeIZTRsXn_3MzakmdbYu526qf6OhOKEi4OPeT9Eal6jEnpFHPPqDJunTfYmc_Vem_OTq42XvSUXSz_qXjOE9U/s640/ostrich+fern+crown+small+fronds.JPG) |
Ostrich fern - Matteuccia struthiopteris putting out little tiny sprouts after going through some transplant shock |
Ostrich ferns have spore-bearing fronds and sterile fronds. Above, you can see the sprouting spore-bearing frond has small saw-toothed leaflets growing upright, and what I think is a very tiny immature sterile frond looks like parsley or some kind of tiny garnish to the right. I don't think it will put out a full sized fiddlehead until next year.