The bracken fern is also commonly known as the brake fern and the bracken. Botanically it is known as Pteridium aquilinum. It is an easy growing drought tolerant perennial from the Bracken-fern family of plants. Use this for a nice backdrop in cut flower arrangements, or in areas where you need a hardy ground cover that will stay green until it turns a nice rustic tan for the fall season.
Bracken fern will grow 1 to 3 feet long fronds that are deciduous. The green leaves turn a rustic tan color in the fall, adding to its beauty. They grow in an arching pattern with hairy rhizomes. It is one of the few ferns that do not grow in a cluster and grow from a rhizome in a singular form. There are no fronds specially designed as a reproductive frond, instead having its spores in segments along the margins.
Planting the Pteridium aquilinum
Plant a bracken fern in full sun to generally complete shade conditions, while its best growing will be done in partial shade. It likes dry acidic soils that are sandy-based. It is both drought tolerant and fire resistant. It should be planted in areas that are in the USDA hardiness zones of 3 through 11. Propagate by rhizome division or by spores.
Bracken fern does well as a ground cover, especially when used as a substitute for sod under trees where grasses usually die. The fronds make for a good foliage background for cut flower arrangements. Others like using this fern as a container plant to keep it from spreading around.
Pteridium aquilinum was an old folklore remedy that has since been shown to be cancer-causing when ingested. There are now warnings against using it for any ingested purposes and no reputable herbal remedy markets will carry it.
Warnings for Pteridium aquilinum
Bracken fern is a poisonous plant and is especially toxic to livestock. The rhizomes and fiddleheads are believed to be a carcinogen; however, it is still eaten in some areas of the world. Caution should be given when planting around cattle grazes. It should never be eaten because of this cancer risk.
Bracken fern is a very dense and lovely fern. While ferns aren’t typically thought of to be drought tolerant, there are many that are. This fern is one of the special selections that work well to give a light and airy feel to your drought tolerant garden plot.
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