trefle.io · Taken Oct 13, 2019 by JP Corrêa Carvalho (cc-by-sa)
Dennstaedtiaceae
Bracken fern
Pteridium esculentum
Also known as Common bracken, Eagle fern, Brake fern, Pteris aquilina var. esculenta
Native Plants · Fern · Groundcover · Shade · Rhizome · Woodland · Native · Perennial · Outdoor · Spreading
Bracken fern thrives in partial shade with consistently moist, well-draining soil and minimal fertilisation. It spreads aggressively via underground rhizomes, so consider containing it in garden beds or large pots. Once established it is remarkably self-sufficient and tolerates a range of soil types.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 4 hours
- Watering
- Water thoroughly until soil is evenly moist; avoid waterlogging · Every 7-10 days
- Maintenance
- Low
- Soil
- loam
- Soil pH
- 5.5–7
- Temperature
- -25°F to 85°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
- Propagation
- Seed
Hardiness
USDA 4b-9b
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 12 in – 3 ft
- Spread
- 2 ft
- Spacing
- 36 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Root depth
- Medium
- Flowers
- No
- Foliage
- Medium
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Antipodean Is., Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Bolivia, Borneo, Brazil North, Brazil Northeast, Brazil South, Brazil Southeast, Brazil West-Central, Cambodia, Chatham Is., China Southeast, Colombia, Ecuador, Fiji, French Guiana, Guyana, Hainan, Jawa
- Attracts
- Birds, Butterflies
Sources: trefle, usda
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