2 named cultivars

fern

Cretan Brake Fern

The Story

Plant Bio

Pteris cretica, the Cretan brake or table fern, is a slow-growing evergreen fern from the tropics and subtropics of Europe, Asia and Africa, making a clump one to two feet high and as wide. The pale green fronds are arching and finely divided, held on wiry dark stalks. It is frost-tender and grown indoors across most of North America.

It asks for less humidity than most tender ferns, which is why it survives on windowsills where maidenhairs crisp up. What it will not forgive is direct sun on the fronds or a rootball left to dry; keep it in bright indirect light and evenly moist compost and it stays presentable for years.

Uses & Benefits:

Finely divided pale green fronds on dark wiry stalks, evergreen and neat in habit.

More tolerant of ordinary indoor humidity than most tender ferns, so it suits real rooms.

Provides year-round green cover in frost-free shade gardens where flowering plants struggle.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Fern

Height

18 inches

Width

24 inches

Light

Partial Sun, Shade

Zones

9, 10

Water

Medium

Humidity

Average to high

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

Old World tropics and subtropics

Toxicity

Non-toxic

Planting

How to Grow

Pot into a free-draining compost with plenty of organic matter.
Site in bright indirect light or dappled shade, never direct sun.
Keep the compost evenly moist but never waterlogged.
Maintain warm, reasonably humid conditions indoors.
Feed sparingly through the growing season.
Remove tired fronds at the base as they age.

Pro Tip

A dried-out rootball is rarely recovered in full; water before the surface dries rather than after the fronds crisp.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Keep the compost evenly moist 💧
Give it bright indirect light 🪟
Grow it warm and reasonably humid 🌫️
Cut tired fronds off at the base ✂️

Don't

Stand it in direct sunlight ❌
Let the rootball dry out completely ❌
Leave it in cold or draughty conditions ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Divide
Feed

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Houseplant for a shaded roomShaded container and terrarium plantingFrost-free garden ground cover in zones 10 to 12

Companion Plants

Peace Lily Prayer Plant BegoniaSpider Plant Cast Iron Plant

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Cretan Brake Fern questions

What zones can Cretan Brake Fern grow in?

Cretan Brake Fern is hardy in USDA Zones 9–10. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Cretan Brake Fern deer resistant?

Yes — Cretan Brake Fern is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Cretan Brake Fern bloom?

Cretan Brake Fern typically blooms in non-flowering; reproduces by spores through late fall. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Cretan Brake Fern need full sun?

Cretan Brake Fern does best in part shade.