Botanical name:

Pteridium esculentum

Common name(s):

Bracken, rarauhe, bracken fern

About:

A terrestrial fern that features a robust, long-creeping, underground stem known as a rhizome. The large, broadly elliptic fronds possess a sturdy woody stem, referred to as the stipe, along with a prominent midrib, called the rachis. These fronds display stiff, leathery leaflets that elegantly curl downwards at the margins, adding to the fern's distinctive appearance.

Natural habitat:

Common in mainly open habitats from the coast to the low alpine zone. Can also be found aggressively invading cleared land.

Growing environment:

Frost, Sun, Shade, Salt, Wetland, Wind, Coastal & Free draining tolerant.

Endemic distribution:

New Zealand’s Kermadec (Raoul Island only), North, South, Stewart, Chatham and Antipodes Islands. Also South East Asia, Australia, Lord Howe, Norfolk Islands extending into western Oceania.

Height: 1m

Flowering:  N/A Spore producing.

Fruiting: N/A

Uses:

Riparian plantings, Forests & Pioneer Plantings.

How to grow:

Despite its weedy nature this species is actually surprisingly difficult to grow from spores and/or transplants of young or mature plants. Best results seem to be from plants which spontaneously arise as pot contaminants within nurseries.