Fiddleheads: Where They Grow and How They Taste

What Are Fiddleheads?

In April, young ferns sprout from wet soil, appearing bright green against the decaying leaves. These are fiddleheads, so-called because the very tops—furled tight when young—look like the tuning end of a fiddle. Similar in looks (and taste) to asparagus, fiddleheads are usually only available for a few weeks in the spring before the fern leaves unravel. 

Where Do Fiddleheads Grow?

Like most ferns, fiddleheads like shady, woodsy areas, near water. The edible fiddleheads of the ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris) can be found in central and eastern U.S. and Canada near streams and moist, forested areas. Many Native American tribes would traditionally harvest fiddleheads, and these days they are harvested commercially in the spring.

If fiddleheads can’t be foraged in your area, you may be able to find them in green grocers, speciality food shops, or at farmers’ markets. They’re only available fresh for a few weeks in springtime, but they’re also sold frozen and canned.

When Are Fiddleheads Harvested?

Fiddleheads are harvested as a vegetable in the early spring as they emerge from the fern crown. They must be picked before the fronds open in order to be edible and tasty.

Each ostrich fern plant will produce several tops that turn into fronds. They are best harvested as soon as they are a couple of inches off of the ground while the fiddlehead is still tightly curled. Fiddleheads should only be harvested from healthy crowns that can sustain picking. It’s best to take only half the tops from each plant (at most) so that the ferns can continue growing. As with wild ramps, it’s important not to overharvest and deplete our natural resources!

CAUTION: If you harvest fiddleheads in the wild, ensure you can identify the ostrich fern from other ferns. Not all ferns are edible; in fact, bracken ferns are carcinogenic and should not be consumed. See fiddlehead safety tips.

What Do Fiddleheads Taste Like?

Have you ever eaten fiddleheads? Many readers say they are sweet like asparagus and snappy like a green bean, with a touch of broccoli stem. Others describe fiddleheads as a cross between asparagus, baby spinach, and artichoke. They have a grassy, springy flavor with a touch of nuttiness. You’ll have to judge for yourself, as it’s a unique taste! Fiddleheads are also a very healthy green tonic packed with antioxidants, omega acids, iron, and fiber.

Fiddlehead Recipes

Many people cook the young fiddleheads like they would asparagus. They need to be cooked thoroughly before eating. Although the ostrich fern is not known to be toxic, it’s a safe precaution. 

Remove the husk, wash three times in cold water, and then either boil for 15 minutes or steam lightly in a steam basket for 10 to 12 minutes, just until tender-crisp.

Learn more about cleaning, cleaning, storing, and preserving fiddleheads.

Check out this recipe for Fiddlehead Soup from the Almanac archives.

A Little Fern Folklore

Fiddleheads and ferns first show up in fossil records from a time over 100 million years BEFORE dinosaurs walked the Earth. In fact, ferns grew before flowering plants existed. Long ago, people couldn’t explain how ferns reproduced since they lack flowers or seeds. Fern seeds were thought to make one invisible!

Today we know that ferns truly don’t have flowers or seeds. How do they reproduce? They have spores. With sunlight and photosynthesis, the spores grow into gametes, which are able to fertilize the sperm and start to move it into the fern plant. This is completely different reproductive process from other plants—no wonder people had questions!

It was this mystery of the nonflowering fern that led to folklore about mystical flowers as seeds. 

Midsummer Eve Lore

During the Middle Ages, ferns were thought to flower and produce seed only once a year at a specific time on a specific date near the summer solstice. 

• According to lore, fern seeds could only be found at midnight on St. John’s Eve (June 23), also called Midsummer Eve.
• This folklore is also intertwined with Midsummer’s Day (June 24); bathing in the dew on this morning was said to bring a youthful glow and healing. 

Since the seeds couldn’t be seen, they were believed to be invisible. It was believed the possessor of these seeds could understand the language of birds, find buried treasure, and have the strength of forty men.

Ferns for Healing

Historically, ferns have been an important source of medicine for various ailments, especially for ancient tribes.

• The spores on the underside of the fern provide relief from stinging nettle (which is often nearby).
• When boiled in oil or fat, Ophioglossum vulgatum has been used to treat wounds and reduce inflammation.
• A poultice or lotion made from the roots of Botrychium virginianum has been applied to snakebites, bruises, cuts, and sores in the Himalayas.
• The powdered rhizomes of Adiantum lunulatum have been used as an antidote to snakebite in India.
• Extract of fresh leaves of Nephrolepis cordifolia has been used to stop bleeding of cuts and help in blood coagulation.
• The paste of the leaf of O. reticulatum has been applied to the forehead to get rid of headaches.
• Filtered water extract of rhizome of Abacopteris multilineata has been used for stomach pains.

Fern Symbolism

The ancient fern has a history rich in symbolism. As mentioned above, ferns were seen as good luck, often for new lovers. The fern symbolizes eternal youth.

• To the indigenous Maori of New Zealand, the fern represented new life and new beginnings.
• To the Japanese, the fern symbolizes family and hope for future generations.
• According to Victorians, the fern symbolizes humility and sincerity. Click to see the meaning of plants and flowers.

Growing the Ostrich Fern

Ostrich ferns (Matteuccia struthiopteris) grow in the wild in the cool, moist shade beside streams and rivers. However, these native perennials are also easy to grow in your landscape if you have moist soil and a shady area. They provide an elegant ground cover and are hardy in Zones 3 to 8.

Though most ferns are 1 to 3 feet wide, the ostrich fern can grow up to 6 feet tall! They form large colonies and are also long-lived. Enjoy watching the springtime fiddleheads slowly unfurl into lacy, bright green fronds.

Plant in the spring as bare-root plants in well-draining soil with added organic matter. They prefer shade and acidic soils with a pH of 4 to 7. Fertilizing should only be done in spring, just after new growth has begun. Ferns are very sensitive to fertilizing, so use a slow-release fertilizer, such as Osmocote 14-14-14. As ferns in nature normally grow in woodland areas, they appreciate some leaf mulch in the spring and fall. That’s it!

Did you know: Ferns also make great houseplants!