Wisconsin Edible Ferns

Ostrich Ferns

• Native to Wisconsin, ostrich fern (Matteucia struthiopteris), hardy in USDA zones 3 through 7, features green outer vegetative fronds which are edible at the fiddlehead stage in spring. If not harvested for food, the fronds develop a plume-like appearance. The inner, fertile fronds are erect and remain brown throughout the year. Ostrich ferns are often cultivated in gardens, where they generally reach 2 to 3 feet tall, but grow up to 6 feet tall in the wild, with a 5 to 8 foot spread. They are generally found in shady wet areas, often near streams or ponds.

Lady Ferns

• Native throughout the United States, including Wisconsin, lady fern (Athyrium felix-femina), hardy in USDA zones 4 through 8 is a popular garden subject that can also be eaten at the spring fiddlehead stage. Lady fern grows 1 to 3 feet tall with a 1 to 2 1/2- foot spread. Once unfurled, individual fronds are deeply dissected. Lady fern will tolerate somewhat more sun than other ferns, but only in places where the soil is uniformly moist.

Bracken Fern Concerns

• Bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinium), hardy in USDA zones 3 through 10, is widely distributed and native to Wisconsin. Coarse in appearance, bracken ferns are noted for the triangular shape of their fronds and grow 3 to 4 feet tall, spreading vigorously. Foragers have long harvested and consumed the fiddleheads. However, in a review of evidence on links between bracken fern and cancer, researchers at the University of Los Andes in Venezuela have identified various studies that suggest carcinogens are present. The Los Andes faculty members also conclude that further research is needed.

Food Foraging

• Ostrich and lady ferns are often grown in gardens and readily available in garden centers for that purpose, so those wishing to harvest the fiddleheads can grow them at home without resorting to wild foraging. Non-gardeners should seek out farm-raised fiddleheads in the spring from reputable sources at farmers' markets, farm stands or other sources. Indiscriminate wild foraging of immature fronds reduces populations of the ferns, even of relatively common species like ostrich and lady fern, and is not sustainable in the long term. Health is an issue with foraging too when there's doubt about whether a certain fiddlehead is safe to eat.