Adiantum pedatum

Maidenhair Fern is at home in woodland gardens but can take a little sun too; lovely in containers and beds. The dark stems give the illusion that the foliage is ‘floating’ in the air.

This lovely fern is most frequently found on rich wooded slopes, ravine bottoms and damp shady woods. Adiantum pedatum features finely-textured, somewhat frilly fronds which have curved stalks on wiry stems that are reddish-brown to black. Easily grown in average, medium wet, well-drained soil in part shade to full shade.

This fern prefers moist, humusy, acidic soils in full shade and spreads slowly by creeping, branching rhizomes to form large colonies over time. Maidenhair Fern is an attractive ornamental fern for the shaded border, woodland garden, shaded rock garden or native plant garden.