Maryland Native Plants

Adiantum pedatum – Maidenhair Fern

Growing Information

The Northern Maidenhair Fern is most commonly found in the wild on slopes and ravines in damp and shaded woodlands. This fern has a preference for moist and acidic soils in full shade, but will tolerate any well-draining soil in part-to-full shade. It can tolerate mild drought, but fronds may begin to brown in high temperatures when in dry soils or sunnier locations.

Habit

Maidenhair ferns grow to around 3 feet tall and spreads slowly, primarily via creeping rhizomes. These ferns will form clumped colonies over time. It’s fronds are fine and “somewhat frilly” (NC State Extension), and stalks are slightly curved. It is not evergreen and does die back in the winter, with new coiled fiddleheads (crosiers) emerging pink in the spring.

This is a relatively hardy fern and can be planted in lots of locations, including outdoor containers.

Fast Facts

Maidenhair ferns are in the Ribbon-fern family and possess water-repellant foliage, inspiring their genus name: it’s roots are from adiantos, which means “unwetted” in Greek.

Small mammals will often shelter under the fronds of this fern.

Plant Information

Common Name: Northern Maidenhair Fern

Type: Fern

Height: 1.00 to 2.50 feet

Spread: 1.00 to 1.50 feet

Bloom Time: Non-flowering

Bloom Description: Non-flowering

Sun: Part shade to full shade

Water: Medium

Maintenance: Low

Suggested Use: Naturalize

Tolerate: Heavy Shade, Deer, Erosion, Dry Soil

(Information from Missouri Botanical Garden, USFWS)