Bracken Fern Pteridium aquilinum

 

Bracken Fern, with Vine Maple and Pacific Yew in background

The bracken fern is one of the few ferns that prefers full sun and will tolerate somewhat dry conditions.

The bracken fern is sometimes confused with the Lady Fern because of its size and the shape of its fronds. However, the Lady Fern prefers shade and moist soil, and emerges from the ground in clumps rather than with single shoots, like the bracken.