Pteris tricolor

RHS Plant Profile

painted brake fern

Synonyms

Pteris quadriaurita 'Tricolor'

Ferns

Buy this from Plant Nurseries
2 Suppliers

A tender, evergreen fern up to 60cm tall and wide with upright fronds that are bronze-red when young, maturing to mid-green with purple stalks and midribs

Position

Full shade, Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 0.5-1 metres
Max Height: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Alkaline or Neutral or Acid

Position

Full shade Partial shade

Aspect: South–facing or East–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): H1C

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: Unresolved

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow outdoors in any chalk-free, moist but well-drained soil with plenty of added leaf-mould. If growing indoors, water freely and feed once a month when in active growth. See how to grow tender ferns outdoors or how to grow ferns as houseplants for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by sowing spores as soon as ripe or division of rhizomes in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Houseplants
Patio and container plants
City and courtyard gardens
Low Maintenance
Conservatory and greenhouse
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Dead or damaged fronds may be removed as necessary

Pests

Generally pest-free outdoors, but under glass may be susceptible to scale insects and eelworms

Diseases

May be susceptible to Sooty mould