Edible Plants: Ostrich Fern

Ostrich Fern ("Matteuccia struthiopteris") grows in the rich alluvial soils of riverbeds. Cook their young fronds in late April before they unfurl. (Don't eat them raw.)

Category:

Education

Tags:

• edible
• plants
• fiddleheads
• ostrich
• ferns
• spring
• harvest
• foraging
• wild
• cooking
• Blanche
• Cybele
• Derby
• garderning
• educational

[thederb720]

Tho' it may seem that there's lots of ferns in an area, I usually pick 2-3 ferns per clump because taking more may injure the plant & /or you may deplete the energy reserves of its underground rhizomes which may cause it to die. If you remove a whole clump then you are also weakening those underground parts. This is probably true for othere ferns as well.My policy is to never take more than I need, except in the case of invasive plants like japanese knotweed or garlic mustard.

[thederb720]

I appreciate your support!--Blanche

[xxDogsoldierxx]

So there are no real poisoness ferns?

[LoveVanillaRose]

AND THE TRUTH SHALL SET US FREE

[icimblind]

How do you know if you remove the whole clump that it kills the fern? Does this apply to all ferns?

[xxxBibixxx]

Great video! Thanks for posting:-)