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 Image of Pteridium aquillinum or Bracken or  Brackenfern or Brake or Eagle Fern or Female Fern or Fiddlehead or Hairy Brackenfern or Hog Brake or Northern Brackenfern or  Western Brackenfern or Pteridium aquilinum var. lanuginosum or Pteridium feei or Pteridium japonicum or Pteris aquilina or Pteris lanuginosa

Synonyms:  Pteridium aquilinum var. lanuginosum, Pteridium feei, Pteridium japonicum, Pteris aquilina, Pteris lanuginosa
Family:  Dennstaedtiaceae  (Fern)
Origin:  Native to United States, all states except Nebraska,
Light:  Full sun-light shade
Height:  2-10'
Spread:  1-6'
Foliage:  3' long x 3' wide, deciduous/semi-deciduous, deep green, broad, thick, leathery, opposite, with edges curled downwards, triangular-shaped  
Soil:  Well-drained, sandy, acidic, neutral
Water:  Moderate-low
Propagation:  Rhizome/offset divisions
Uses:  Containers, groundcover, woodland setting
Caution:  Parts of plant toxic, plant is invasive
Other comments:  Pteridium aquillinum or Bracken or  Brackenfern or Brake or Eagle Fern or Female Fern or Fiddlehead or Hairy Brackenfern or Hog Brake or Northern Brackenfern or Western Brackenfern or Pteridium aquilinum var. lanuginosum or Pteridium feei or Pteridium japonicum or Pteris aquilina or Pteris lanuginosa is a large, deciduous or semi-deciduous perennial fern with a shallow rhizomatous growth habit.  It is a native all the states of United States except Nebraska and many parts of the world as well.   Pteridium aquillinum grows from a single leaf stalk and spreads by spores and rhizomatous roots that creeps and send up a shoot about 10 feet away from the parent.  Female Fern thrives best in well-drained, sandy acidic soil, in a sunny to light shade area.  Hairy Brackenfern makes lovely groundcovers in a woodland setting.  Fiddlehead can also be container cultivated for the shady porch.  Eagle Fern has thin, brittle black roots and greenish frond petioles that is hairy at the base. The young fronds of Pteridium feei had been a source of food for ages; those who have a history of this plant in their diet were found to be suffering from cancer.  Hog Brake releases a harmful allelopathic chemical that prevents other plants from growing near them.  It is not frost tolerant.  In Winter, Pteridium aquilinum var. lanuginosum will be killed to the ground but will reemerge next season with stronger growth.  The dried leaves are fire harzardous; they burn easily and the ash was used as potash by industries and as animal bedding.    
Interestingly, the word 'pteris is Latin for 'fern and 'aquilinum' is for 'eagle-like'.
USDA Hardiness Zones :  3-10