- Hardiness
- Zones 3 to 7
- Light
- Shade
- Water
- Steady moisture
- Size
- 3 to 5 ft
- Blooms
- None (grown for leaves)
- Colors
- green
When to plant ostrich fern by zone
| Zone | Median last / first frost | When to plant | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3b | May 16 / Sep 25 | Spring: May 2 to Jun 27 Fall: Jul 17 to Aug 14 | Comes back |
| 4a | May 12 / Sep 28 | Spring: Apr 28 to Jun 23 Fall: Jul 20 to Aug 17 | Comes back |
| 4b | May 8 / Oct 1 | Spring: Apr 24 to Jun 19 Fall: Jul 23 to Aug 20 | Comes back |
| 5a | May 3 / Oct 5 | Spring: Apr 19 to Jun 14 Fall: Jul 27 to Aug 24 | Comes back |
| 5b | May 1 / Oct 10 | Spring: Apr 17 to Jun 12 Fall: Aug 1 to Aug 29 | Comes back |
| 6a | Apr 29 / Oct 16 | Spring: Apr 15 to Jun 10 Fall: Aug 7 to Sep 4 | Comes back |
| 6b | Apr 22 / Oct 22 | Spring: Apr 8 to Jun 3 Fall: Aug 13 to Sep 10 | Comes back |
| 7a | Apr 16 / Oct 25 | Spring: Apr 2 to May 28 Fall: Aug 16 to Sep 13 | Comes back |
| 7b | Apr 5 / Nov 1 | Spring: Mar 22 to May 17 Fall: Aug 23 to Sep 20 | Comes back |
| 8a | Mar 29 / Nov 7 | Not hardy here | Too warm |
| 8b | Mar 16 / Nov 14 | Not hardy here | Too warm |
| 9a | Mar 2 / Nov 26 | Not hardy here | Too warm |
| 9b | Feb 1 / Dec 9 | Not hardy here | Too warm |
Zones 10 and warmer have little or no frost. There, plant cool-season plants in fall and warm-season plants from late winter.
Similar perennials
Garden peonyFull sun · Zones 3 to 8Perennial salviaFull sun · Zones 4 to 8CatmintFull sun · Zones 3 to 8
English lavenderFull sun · Zones 5 to 8More for your zone: zone 3 perennials, zone 4 perennials, zone 5 perennials, zone 6 perennials, zone 7 perennials.
Frequently asked questions
What zone does ostrich fern grow in?
Ostrich fern is hardy in USDA zones 3 to 7. Outside that range it struggles with the winter. Find your zone by ZIP code.
How much sun does ostrich fern need?
Shade. Full sun means at least six hours of direct sun a day; part shade means about three to six.
Hardiness ranges, light and size are typical figures from university extension services and botanic garden plant records; a named variety can differ, so check its tag. Planting dates come from each zone's median frost dates (NOAA 1991 to 2020 climate normals) and the timing rules in how we check.