BRAKE

Small evergreen ferns of sub- tropical origin. They are mostly used as houseplants, but the ones listed here will also grow outdoors. Indoors, they should be sited in bright light but shielded from hot sun; an east-facing window is ideal. They benefit from frequent misting. Provide good drainage; keep the soil evenly moist. Fertilize every 2 weeks during spring and summer and once monthly in fall and winter with a general-purpose liquid houseplant fertilizer.

cretan brake

pteris cretica

• To feet high, 2 feet wide, with comparatively few long, narrow leaflets.
• Numerous selections exist; some have forked or crested fronds, others are variegated.
• Pteris c.
• albolineata ('Albolineata' ) has a broad white band down the center of each leaflet.
• Mayi is similar but with crested tips.
• Light green 'Wimsettii' has fronds that are forked at the tip on mature plants; it is so dense and frilly that it does not even look like a fern.

australian brake

pteris quadriaurita

• Reaches 24 feet tall and wide.
• Rather coarsely divided fronds.
• Not as easy to grow as other species, but worth the effort for unusual coloring of varieties Pteris q.
• argyraea (P.
• argyraea), with green fronds heavily marked white, and 'Tricolor', with fronds marked white, green, and red.
• Protect from frost watch for slugs and snails.

pteris tremula

• To 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide.
• Extremely graceful fronds on slender, upright stalks.
• Good landscape fern with excellent silhouette.
• Fast growing but tends to be rather short lived.