Hi-- are these edible ferns, and , if not, do you know the botanical and common name for edible ferns? In the Maritimes they are called fiddleheads , but I don't know what the botanical name is or what zone they grow in , here in BC.Coleen
Yes, Matteuccia struthiopteris is the fern of edible fiddleheads fame. The Univ. of Maine Cooperative Extension has some facts on fiddleheads, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has an advisory on undercooking.
It grows beautifully here in Piedmont North Carolina. In fact. it grows almost too well sending out runners in profusion. Gorgeous plant . An interesting phenomenon though. one runner ran into a Taxus brownii. I removed it, but the Taxus turned yellow and failed to send out much new growth. It's now about half the size of two that are planted just a yard or two away. When it's condition kept deteriorating, I treated it with "Messenger" and that helped greatly. The normal dark green color has returned and new growth is happening. I wonder if the fern had anything to do with this, or was it Phytopthera root rot. or what?
