The fine textured foliage of Maidenhair Fern provides a perfect foil for other plants in the shade garden. Gently arching fronds seem to float suspended above the ground in a graceful fan-like shape that is unique among ferns …
The fine textured foliage of Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum pedatum) provides a perfect foil for other plants in the shade garden. Unique among ferns, the gently arching fronds seem to float suspended above the ground in a graceful fan-like shape. The floating illusion is maintained by a structure of very fine black stems that all but disappear against the background. Highly recommended for home landscaping Maidenhair fern is easy to grow, low maintenance, and highly resistant to damage from deer.
Native to the rich wooded slopes and damp shady woodlands East of the Mississippi, Adiantum pedatum thrives in well-drained to slightly damp soil in full shade. Plants will tolerate mild drought as long as they are not exposed to direct sun – in which case morning sun is better than the hot afternoon sun. If conditions are too hot and the soil is dry for too long the plants may die-back, but will return when conditions become favorable again. Over time, this clump-forming fern spreads slowly by branching rhizomes to form large colonies. It needs shelter from the wind to look its best and is excellent for naturalizing on shaded hillsides, or in any protected shady area.
Native plants can be grown outside of their native range in the appropriate growing conditions. This map shows the native range, as well as the introduced range, of this species.
Plant Shipping Rates: for plant orders up to $50 the shipping amount is $9.95. For plant orders from $50.01 and over, the shipping rate is 20% of the total plant cost.
Fall plant-shipping begins on September 9, 2024. The last day to order your plants for fall shipment is September 29.
During checkout, you will be asked to choose a Shipping Week for your plant delivery, from the dates that are available. The week that you choose will be included in your order confirmation email. When your plants ship you will receive an email that includes your tracking information.
Yes, Maidenhair Fern is known to grow well under Black Walnut trees. See our list of juglone tolerant species for more ideas ... https://www.prairienursery.com/plants-seeds/site-solutions/black-walnut-tolerant.htmlNote: Soil that is compacted, slow draining, or lacks sufficient healthy microbial growth, will have less success supporting plants under Black Walnut trees.
Are ferns better planted in Spring or Fall?
Planting ferns in the spring is most common, but they can be planted at any time during the growing season, and that includes fall planting. If planted in spring, make sure to keep them consistently moist, but not over-watered, during their first season. A site that is protected from the wind also helps ferns establish quickly. If planted in the fall they should be installed in the ground at least 6 weeks before the ground freezes. This is important because it gives the newly planted ferns enough time to root-in before the ground freezes. Fall planted ferns may die-back quickly as they head into a dormant stage, but that does not mean they are dead. In the fall, new transplants typically take less water than in the spring, but still should have the soil moisture checked regularly to make sure it is not drying out completely. In fall you might want to use a marker/ or tag, in the soil to identify the place where you planted them.
Sign-in or create an account to submit a question.
