Pteridium aquilinum
bracken fern
Dennstaedtiaceae
Plant Specifics
Form:
fern
Size:
1-4 ft tall by spreads by rhisomes forming large patches
Life Span:
long-lived perennial
Flower Color:
Fruit Color:
Phenology:
evergreen,winter dormant
Noted For:
Interesting Foliage
Landscaping
Recommended Uses:
Groundcover. This is one of the few ferns that can handle sun. Height will depend on variety with bracken ferns from South Florida typically being much larger than those from further north.
Considerations:
In rich soils, may be overly aggressive.
Light:
Full Sun, Part Sun
Moisture Tolerance:
Usually moist, occasional inundation ---- to ---- Not wet but not extremely dry
Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:
Unknown
Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
Soil or Other Substrate:
Sand, Loam, Lime Rock
Suitable to Grow In:
8A,8B,9A,9B,10A,10B
Ecology
Wildlife:
Native Habitats:
Dry sites. Oak-pine-hickory woodslands. Tolerant of disturbance.
