FNPS Plant Database

Pteris bahamensis

Bahama brake fern, pineland brake fern
  • Photo by: photographer name here

Nomenclature

Common Name:

Bahama brake fern, pineland brake fern

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Pteris bahamensis

Family:

Pteridaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

Fern

Size:

1–2 ft, spreads horizontally by rhisomes

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

Fruit Color:

Phenology:

Evergreen

Noted For:

Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Grows in clumps. Unusual in that it thrives in high light, but needs moist soil.

Considerations:

Needs periodic removal of old fronds -- cut the clumps back in winter or early spring.

Availability:

Propagation:

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded---------------------------------Extremely Dry

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Usually moist, occasional inundation -to- Not wet but not extremely dry

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Soil pH:

Alkaline

Suitable to Grow In:

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.

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Vouchered In:

Distribution
Vouchered
Not vouchered
Selected
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No county distribution is available for this plant yet.
Starting…
Map coded by Melissa Fernandez-de Cespedes (Paynes Prairie Chapter)

Ecology

Wildlife:

Native Habitats:

Pine rockland, sinkhole (edges). On limestone

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

Bahama ladder brake hybridizes with the non-native and invasive China brake (P. Vittata) forming Delchamps' ladder brake (P. X delchampsii). Bahama ladder break is threatened with extinction due to this hybridization. Because of this, we do not recommend planting Bahama ladder break -- if we plant it and there is any China brake around, we exacerbate the problem. When you find this plant in nature, please enjoy it there. Listed as threatened by the state of Florida.
FNPS Plant Print

Citations:

Gann, G.D, C.J. Abbott, C.G. Stocking, K.N. Hines, and collaborators. (2001+). Bahama ladder brake [in] Natives For Your Neighborhood. ( https://www.regionalconservation.org/beta/nfyn/plantdetail.asp?tx=Pterbaha ). Accessed 2026. The Institute for Regional Conservation. Delray Beach, FL.


Huegel, Craig N. (2012). Native Wildflowers and Other Ground Covers for Florida Landscapes. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.


Osorio, Rufino. (2001). A Gardener's Guide to Florida's Native Plants. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.


Wunderlin, R. P, B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. (1999+). Atlas of Florida Plants. ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ). [S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), USF Water Institute.] Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL.

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