Pteris dentata

RHS Plant Profile
toothed brake

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Ferns Conservatory Greenhouse Houseplants

A versatile, fast-growing, clump-forming, evergreen fern with bright green, slightly cupped, dissected, lace-like foliage. An ideal fern for groundcover in damp soil or shade. May be used as a houseplant and also grown in containers outdoors, if kept well-watered and in a shady location. Hardy in milder parts of the UK, but may need protection from frost

Position

Full shade, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
1–2 years
Max Spread
0.5-1 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Neutral

Position

Full shade Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or North–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H4

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Pteridaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Clump forming
Genus
Pteris can be evergreen, semi-evergreen or deciduous ferns, with short or long rhizomes and fronds that may be pinnate to 4-pinnate
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
Turkey, Middle East, Africa

How to Grow

Cultivation

Indoors, grow in moist but well-drained compost in a humid location in bright, filtered light. Water regularly to keep soil moist but avoid waterlogging. Repot in spring if showing signs of outgrowing their pot. Feed monthly during the growing sesason (Apr-Sept). Outdoors, grow in moist soil in part or full shade. If growing in containers, ensure that they are kept moist. Protect from frost. See how to grow ferns or how to grow ferns as houseplants for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by spores or division of rhizomes or rootball in spring or when re-potting. Include healthy fronds or leaf buds when dividing

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Hanging Basket
  • Houseplants
  • Patio and container plants
  • Low Maintenance
  • Conservatory and greenhouse
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Ground cover

Pruning

No pruning required. Remove dead fronds as required

Pests

May be susceptible to mealybugs, aphids and red spider mite

Diseases

May be susceptible to leaf spot, bacterial wilt and a virus