Hi, can anyone tell me if Ostrich fern Matteuccia Struthiopteris grows locally here in the lower mainland? The reason I'm asking is because I'm looking for true native plants for my yard, plants that occur or historically grew in this area. I'm at low elevation close to Burnaby Lake. So far, I have Sword, Lady, Deer, Licorice and Spiny Wood Ferns. I also know Bracken Fern grows here and have read Male Fern, Western Oak Fern (Gymnocarpium Disjunctum) and Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum Aleuticum) occur here as well. Thank you.
I've read that Ostrich fern grows in the Fraser Valley, and I've been looking for it during my hikes in the area. The only place that I've actually found any of these is in the Chilliwack valley. I also bought one at Gardenworks in Burnaby so that I had an example for identification.
There is some information here regarding some general localities if you enter ostrich fern. E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Plants of British Columbia
I can confirm male fern, E-Flora BC Atlas Page , as being present - we found it near Burnaby Lake on a BioBlitz several years ago.
Thanks for all the replies. Yes, I saw Male Fern in The Burnaby Lake bioblitz list for 2010, but not 2011.
Certainly not common in the area (in present day); we only collected one frond from the few plants to make the documented record, since it is relatively uncommon locally.
