Bracken Fern

Bracken fern, Pteridium aquilinum, is a tough native fern with broad, triangular fronds that fills open ground fast. We ship it bare-root in packs of 25, 50, 100 and 500, for naturalized plantings, woodland edges, erosion control and wholesale buyers who need a fast green cover.

Bracken Fern Size, Zones and Sun

Fronds reach about 2 to 4 feet tall, and a patch can spread 4 to 5 feet wide. Bracken fern is hardy in zones 3 to 10. Unlike many ferns, it handles full sun to partial shade. Soil is usually acidic, sandy and moist to somewhat dry, and it tolerates occasional wet spells.

Bracken Fern Fronds and Growth

Each frond is broadly triangular and divided into three sections, often leaning to one side. The leaves run 3 to 6 inches long with lobed, toothed edges, and spores form along the frond margins. Long creeping rhizomes carry the plant sideways, which is why a few plants turn into a colony.

Bracken Fern and Deer

Deer leave bracken alone, which makes it handy in places where hostas and other ferns get eaten. It suits meadows, naturalized areas and woodland plantings. For companions, see our easy-to-grow ferns for Tennessee gardens.

Where to Plant Bracken Fern

Think open woodland edges, slopes, wild borders and mass plantings where you want ground covered quickly. Space plants 18 to 24 inches apart. Our how to build a fern garden border guide has layout ideas for border plantings.

Planting Bracken Fern Bare-root

Soak the roots for an hour and plant with the crown at soil level. Water well and keep the soil moist through the first month. Once the rhizomes take hold, bracken needs very little attention.

Buying Bracken Fern in Bulk

A pack of 100 at 2-foot spacing covers about 400 square feet, and because the plants run, the gaps fill within a season or two. Bulk buyers often start with 100 for a slope or a naturalized strip.

Good to Know About Bracken Fern

Bracken is an aggressive spreader, so plant it where it can roam, away from formal beds. All parts of the plant, including the fiddleheads, are poisonous if eaten, and it's harmful to livestock, particularly horses, if it ends up in pasture or hay. Keep it out of grazing areas.

Bracken Fern in Naturalized Areas

Bracken is a good choice where you want a wild look and little upkeep: old fields, utility corridors, open woodland and slopes where other plants struggle. The fronds die back in fall to a rusty brown, and new croziers push up in spring. Mowing or cutting the fronds each year slows the spread if you need to hold a boundary.

Bracken Fern Sizes, Packs and Shipping

Bracken fern ships bare-root in packs of 25, 50, 100 and 500. Volume pricing available. Browse more wholesale ferns.