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Eastern Bracken

Pteridium aquilinum var. latiusculum

Mainly in dry woodlands, forests, and heath balds, up to 1600 m in elevation. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Northern Tier edition What its natural habitat tells you

33
Good

Native to West Virginia. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 100%

Height
2–4 feet
Spread
4–5 feet
Light
Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture
Usually moist

Space about 4.5 ft apart from its recorded spread, about 5 per 100 sq ft. Enter your bed size for a count

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At a glance

Life cycle
Perennial
Leaves
Deciduous
Bloom
July to September

Recorded in 11 West Virginia counties.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

1 of 3

Dry forests and woodlands

Forests and open woodlands on dry ridges and slopes, often oak or pine.

Forests and woodlands

Forest or woodland where the source does not say how moist or dry.

Mountain balds

Treeless grassy or shrubby summits and ridges in the high mountains.

All habitats

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

12CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including WV

Genus host records with ranges including WV · Pteridium

  • Callopistria cordataSilver-Spotted Fern Moth
  • Callopistria mollissimaPink-Shaded Fern Moth
  • Eueretagrotis perattentusTwo-Spot Dart
  • Euplexia benesimilisAmerican Angle Shades
  • Fagitana litteraMarsh Fern Moth
  • Homochlodes fritillariaPale Homochlodes
  • Melanchra adjunctaHitched Arches
  • Melanchra assimilisBlack Arches
  • Morrisonia latexFluid Arches, Fluid Mamestra
  • Olethreutes osmundanaFern Olethreutes
Show all 12
  • Papaipema pterisiiBracken Border
  • Petrophora subaequariaLeaping Looper, Northern Petrophora
Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
0BeesSoutheastern regional records
0Specialist beesPollen specialists
—BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

No records yet · Ants · Beetles · Flies · Adult butterflies / moths · Other wasps · Other insects

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
Dennstaedtiaceae
Hardiness
Zones 3a–10b
Soil pH
Acidic
Flower color
Not applicable

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope
Also known as

Pteridium aquilinum var. latiusculum

Conservation status

West Virginia rankS5
Global rankG5T5 [G5]
WV statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

In your garden

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Sources