Quick answer: Western bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum) is native to 7 states. What's commonly sold under this name is the true wild species. No live listing of the true species was found as of 16 Sep 2026.
Photo: Jules Verne Times Two, Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA-4.0)
Where it's native
Listed in the register as native to these states. Click a state for its full native-plant guide.
Growing conditions
From the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Native Plant Database.
| Sun | Part Shade, Shade |
|---|---|
| Water | Low, Medium |
| Soil | Acid clays, loams, sands, poor/sterile |
| Bloom | Non-flowering (spore-bearing) |
| Height | 1-4 ft |
| Wildlife value | Provides shelter to small animals |
All plant parts poisonous, including fiddleheads; contains thiaminase; symptoms: weakness, high fever, incoordination, convulsions
Very aggressive, roots colonize aggressively; can become invasive if not managed
Buying it
No live listing of the true wild species was found as of 16 Sep 2026 — that means our last search didn't surface one, not that the plant is unavailable.
No live seed or plant listing found as of 16 Sep 2026. That means our last search didn't surface one — not that the plant is unavailable. Try a regional native-plant nursery.
Also listed under
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