Bracken Fern

Planted April 20, 2024

Names

Common Names
Bracken Fern, Brake, Brackenfern, Eagle Fern

Growth

Height
3-4 feet
Spread
36-48 inches
Growth Rate
Fast

Appearance

Foliage Color
Green (green in spring/summer; brown in autumn)
Fall Foliage Color
Brown

Environment

Hardiness Zones
Zones 3-10
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally partial shade, tolerates full sun.
Soil Type
Acidic, well-drained soil (pH 4–6), often sandy to peaty
Soil Drainage
Well-drained soil (moist but well-drained)
Soil pH
4-6, Acidic

Lifecycle

Lifecycle
Perennial
Leaf Lifecycle
Deciduous
Seasons of Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Bloom Time
Non-flowering

Reproduction

Propagation Methods
Spores and Division

Wildlife

Attracts Wildlife
Bracken provides cover for birds, small mammals, and other wildlife, nectar at leaflets’ bases attracts ants, fed on by certain caterpillars and aphids, and there is no indication of attracting bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, other pollinators, or birds

References