Ferns Growing In Landscapes – Edible Or Not

Q: Are any of the ferns I see growing in landscapes edible?

A: One is, the rest are not. A few local gardeners grow ostrich fern, Matteuccia struthiopteris, in wet places in their landscapes. The fiddleheads (emerging fronds) that appear from a rounded clump each spring can be snapped off when small and then sauteed or boiled. Some compare the taste to asparagus. All other ferns, including our native Christmas fern, are best left untasted.