Slender Brake
(Pteris ensiformis)
Slender Brake (Pteris ensiformis)
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Forest and Kim Starr
CC BY 2.0
Image By:
Forest and Kim Starr
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Copyright:
CC BY 2.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Forest and Kim Starr | License Type: CC BY 2.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ | Uploader: Starr Environmental | Publisher: Flickr |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Pteris ensiformis, commonly known as Slender Brake, is an evergreen fern, though it may be semi-deciduous in cooler climates, native to moist, shaded forest floors and ravines in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands. This species typically grows to a height of 12-18 inches (30-45 centimeters) with a similar spread. Slender Brake has delicate, narrow fronds that are light green with a distinctive variegated appearance, often with a silvery-white stripe down the center of each pinnae. It does not produce showy flowers, as ferns reproduce via spores.
Slender Brake is valued for its elegant foliage and is often used in shaded garden areas, as ground cover, or in containers. It is also a popular houseplant due to its adaptability to indoor conditions. This fern thrives in humid environments and requires consistently moist soil, but it is important to avoid waterlogged conditions. It prefers acidic to neutral soil and can tolerate a range of light conditions from full shade to part shade. While it is generally easy to maintain, it can be susceptible to common fern pests such as scale insects and mealybugs.CC BY-SA 4.0
Slender Brake is valued for its elegant foliage and is often used in shaded garden areas, as ground cover, or in containers. It is also a popular houseplant due to its adaptability to indoor conditions. This fern thrives in humid environments and requires consistently moist soil, but it is important to avoid waterlogged conditions. It prefers acidic to neutral soil and can tolerate a range of light conditions from full shade to part shade. While it is generally easy to maintain, it can be susceptible to common fern pests such as scale insects and mealybugs.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Fern
- Height: 0.5-1.4 feet
- Width: 0.5-1 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Flower Color: N/A
- Flowering Season: Non-Flowering
- Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Shade, Part Shade
- Water: Medium
- Drainage: Medium
Common Uses
Edible*Disclaimer: Easyscape's listed plant edibility is for informational use. Always verify the safety and proper identification of any plant before consumption., Low Maintenance, Rabbit Resistant, Rock Garden
Natural Habitat
Moist, shaded forest floors and ravines in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands
Other Names
Common Names: Silver Lace Fern, Sword Brake Fern, Sword Brake, 箭葉鳳尾蕨
Scientific Names: , Pteris ensiformis, Pteris crenata, Pteris ensiformis subsp. victoriae, Pteris stricta, Pteris ensiformis var. furcans, Pteris prionitis, Pteris multidentata, Acrostichum trifoliatum, Phorolobus chinensis
GBIF Accepted Name: Pteris ensiformis Burm.