Botanical name:

Pteris tremula

Common name(s):

Shaking brake, tender brake, Australian bracken

About:

A terrestrial fern characterised by a short, erect stem that stands upright in its natural habitat. The fronds of this fern are bright green in colour, thinly layered, and intricately divided, showcasing overlapping leaflets that are distinguished by their free veins, which do not join to form a network. Interestingly, the common name of this fern is derived from the distinctive way its fronds tend to tremble gently in response to a light breeze, creating a lively visual effect.

Natural habitat:

Coastal to montane (in northern part of range) in open, dry forest, scrub, wasteland, along track and roadsides and on retaining walls and similar sites in built up areas.

Growing environment:

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

Endemic distribution:

New Zealand’s Kermadec Islands (Raoul, Meyers and Macauley Islands), Three Kings, North, South, Chatham Islands. Also Australia, Tasmania, Lord Howe, Norfolk and Fiji.

Height: 50cm

Flowering: N/A Spore producing.

Fruiting: N/A

Uses:

Riparian plantings, Forests & Pioneer Plantings.

How to grow:

Very easily grown, often naturalising in gardens and becoming weedy (and may even self establish in urban areas from spores blown in from elsewhere). Very fast growing and tolerate of most conditions except waterlogged soils and heavy shade