Common Bracken
Pteridium aquilinum
Also listed as Pteris aquilina, Filix aquilina
Also known as Bracken, Bracken Fern, Eagle Fern
Climate Match for your location
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Common bracken is a fast-growing deciduous fern with feathery, triangular fronds that spreads vigorously through underground rhizomes. It tolerates poor soils and partial shade, making it useful for woodland groundcover, though it can become invasive.
Why grow it
Common bracken establishes quickly in degraded soils and deep shade where many ferns struggle, making it a reliable choice for colonizing difficult woodland edges and clearings. Its dense frond cover suppresses weeds effectively once established. Compared to slower-spreading ferns, bracken reaches functional groundcover density within one growing season, though this speed comes with management demands.
Watch out for
Bracken fronds can take several seasons to establish a dense groundcover, so be patient during initial establishment. Young fronds (fiddleheads) emerge in spring and may be damaged by late frosts in cool climates. Regular monitoring is needed in areas where you want to contain it, as rhizome fragments can regenerate from soil disturbance.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Dennstaedtiaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Worldwide distribution; temperate and tropical regions
Native to: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Seasonality
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Common bracken is a fast-growing deciduous fern with feathery, triangular fronds that spreads vigorously through underground rhizomes. It tolerates poor soils and partial shade, making it useful for woodland groundcover, though it can become invasive.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Common Bracken grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Common bracken establishes quickly in degraded soils and deep shade where many ferns struggle, making it a reliable choice for colonizing difficult woodland edges and clearings. Its dense frond cover suppresses weeds effectively once established. Compared to slower-spreading ferns, bracken reaches functional groundcover density within one growing season, though this speed comes with management demands.
Watch out for
Bracken fronds can take several seasons to establish a dense groundcover, so be patient during initial establishment. Young fronds (fiddleheads) emerge in spring and may be damaged by late frosts in cool climates. Regular monitoring is needed in areas where you want to contain it, as rhizome fragments can regenerate from soil disturbance.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Dennstaedtiaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Worldwide distribution; temperate and tropical regions
Native to: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Seasonality
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Similar ground covers you might consider:
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