Cretan Brake Fern, Polipoli

Frost Tolerance: Hardy to 25° F (-4° C)

Sun Exposure: Part to full shade

Origin: Crete

Growth Habits: Fern, 12 to 24inches tall and wide (30-60 cm); short-creeping rhizomes; arching, pinnate, pale green leaves, 12 to 24 inches long (30-60 cm), 1 to 5 pairs of narrowly lanceolate pinnae, simple or forked at tips; fertile fronds are taller with narrower pinnae

Watering Needs: Abundant water and humidity

Propagation: Division, easy from spores

Pteris cretica, habit in the wild, in Hawaii, Photo by Forest & Kim Starr

The Cretan Brake Fern is a very variable species, and many forms have been named.

Cultivars and forms
• var. albolineata Hook, 'Albo-Lineata', Variegated Table Fern, Silver Ribbon Fern: broad white central band, easy to grow
• 'Childsii': broad pinnae, light green leaflets frilled along the edges,
• 'Major', Oriental Brake:
• 'Mayi': with crested tips, each leaflet with a white central band, 16 inches tall and wide (40 cm)
• 'Nervosa': larger form, up to 3 feet tall (90 cm), cold resistant
• 'Parkeri', Parker's Table Fern: broad, rough flat pinnae
• 'Rivertoniana', Lacy Table Fern: pinnae with irregular lobes, in 4-5 pairs, often slightly crested, 2 feet tall and wide (60 cm)
• 'Röweri','Roweii', crested Brake Fern, a frilled 'Parkeri'
• 'Wimsettii', Skeleton Table Fern: easy to grow, a for of 'Rivertoniana' with the features more marked
• 'Wilsonii', Club Foot Fern, Fan Table Fern: low-growing, end of pinnae crested appearing fan-like