Today, there are over 11,000 species, and most of them cannot be consumed safely. Download all free or royalty-free photos and vectors. The fiddleheads or immature fronds just starting to unfold are an attractive feature of most species. A 100-gram serving (about 3.5 ounces, or close to a half cup) offers a whopping 72% of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) for adults. Fiddleheads are the first ostrich fern shoots to show in the spring and are so called because of their resemblance to the neck of a fiddle. Most garden ferns can be grown both indoor and outdoor when provided the right care. A staple plant of woodland gardens, the ostrich fern boasts stately, large upright fronds that resemble the large feathers of their namesake bird. Of all the wild edible plants, fiddlehead ferns are some of the most unique and flavorful. The curly ferns are so named after their unique resemblance to fiddle (violin) head. Fiddlehead ferns are especially high in vitamin A, which helps organs like the heart and lungs function properly; it also plays a role in vision and the immune system. Unlike Sword Ferns, the Lady Fern has softer, graceful, more delicate leaves. Ostrich Fern Fiddleheads. The fiddlehead fern produces an early spring treat: boiled to just tender, a bit of salt and melted butter, a splash of vinegar and a hint of nutmeg. Ferns make wonderful additions to woodland gardens or shady borders and contrast well with hostas and other foliage plants. Only 2 left in stock - order soon. We carry many delicious and rare perennial vegetables and salad greens, as well as berry bushes, fruiting vines, fruit trees and nut trees. The Western Fiddlehead Fern: Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina) Most people think only of the Eastern Fiddlehead, the Ostrich fern when they think of edible fiddleheads. They vary in size, shape and edibility from species to species. When to Transplant Ferns. Fiddleheads are harvested as vegetables and considered a springtime delicacy in many places, including parts of North America, Australia and Western Europe. Jul 30, 2016 - Explore Michelle Palmer's board "Ferns & Fiddleheads", followed by 1478 people on Pinterest. A study published in the Canadian Journal of Plant Science showed that ostrich fern fiddlehead tissue is a rich source of ascorbate, alpha and beta carotene, a- and g-tocopherols, lutein, violaxanthin, zeaxanthin and phenolic compounds. 39.4K views; by Jessica Walliser June 21, 2016. Fiddleheads are the unfurled new leaves of a fern. They are deer resistant as well. Grow Fiddlehead Ferns For Market This often foraged food can be cultivated for market in your own garden. - Contributed . The north side of a house, for example, often provides a good spot to plant a patch of fiddleheads if you don’t own woodland to plant in. Before picking fiddleheads in the wild, ensure you have … But there is another widely consumed wild fern, the lady fern. Ostrich Fern Plant Fantastic Foliage for Woodland Areas! Life Cycle of Seedless Vascular Plants. In fact, cooking fiddleheads is quite popular because of their unique taste and impressive … Although they’re only in season for a few weeks of the year, fiddlehead ferns are a gourmet delight. When planted in masses, it makes a real statement in the landscape. Plus, it's ideal for adding beauty and interest to wooded areas and around trees and shrubs. PHOTO: Christian Bucad/Flickr . Once you know how to grow ostrich ferns and have a good bed established, you might want to try harvesting fiddleheads for a springtime dinner treat. Fiddlehead ferns are the popular name for Ostrich ferns (Matteuccia struthiopteris) which grow in central and eastern North America. Although many fern species are edible at the “fiddlehead” stage, the Ostrich fern is the accepted fiddlehead fern. When fiddlehead ferns come into season, you know that it’s springtime. Ostrich ferns have two types of fronds: sterile fronds (that grow up to 1.5 metres) and fertile spore-producing fronds (30 to 50 centimetres tall) that emerge weeks after fiddleheads.