Pteris vittata

Ladder brake

Family: Pteridaceae · Type: perennial · Not Native

Ladder brake is a naturalized perennial fern found in the southern California Coast Ranges at elevations of 400 to 800 meters in moist rock walls, rock crevices, and streamsides in both sunny and shaded environments. With a distinctive growth habit, this fern develops a stout, short-creeping rhizome that supports large fronds reaching 30 to 75 centimeters tall. Its medium to dull green blade is intricately one-pinnate, with 12 to 20 pairs of pinnae that are finely serrate along the edges, creating a ladder-like appearance. The fern's fronds are characterized by a stipe (leaf stalk) shorter than the blade, which is notably scaly, especially near the base. This adaptable fern thrives in diverse moisture-rich habitats, demonstrating its resilience in rocky and damp ecological niches.

Habitat: Moist rock walls, rock crevices, streamsides, seeps, sun or shade

Elevation: 400-800 m

Bioregions: SnGb

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.