Idea home landscaping

Maidenhair Ferns

Adiantum
A genus of delicate looking and dainty Ferns that are surprisingly tough.
They prefer moist, shady sites. Most do not like mulch.

Adiantum capillis veneris ( Southern Maidenhair )
A very vigorous, rhizomatous, spreading, deciduous to evergreen Fern forming a clump reaching up to 2 x 3 feet. Some records include: 2 years - width of 3 feet.
It is native to many places around the world in temperate climates including North America ( southern Missouri to Maryland; south to Texas to south Florida ) and southern Europe.
The very attractive fronds reach up to 28 x 10 inches in size, bearing many lobed leaflets. The foliage is luxuriant bright green.
The fronds are borne in slender, glossy blackish stalks.
Hardy zones 6 to 9 in partial to full shade on moist, fertile, limestone soils.
The Southern Maidenhair prefers woodland conditions. It is not prone to pests or disease.

* photo taken on Aug 29 2013 in Clarksville, MD


Banksianum
A vigorous, more upright native of the western U.S. ( northern California to southern Colorado and south, with separate ranges in British Columbia and southwest South Dakota ), reaching a maximum height of 2.5 feet.
It is hardier, surviving as far north as zone 6 ( even to zones 4 and 5 on protected sites ). Comes true from seed.

* photo taken by Gary Larson @ USDA NRCS. 1992. Western wetland flora


Fimbriatum
The leaflets have extended finger-like lobes. Otherwise similar.

Imbricatum
Dwarf form with foliage that has deeply cut lobed.

Mairisii
Broad triangular fronds have long, triangular leaflets.
Hardy zones 6 to 9

Michigan Form
A clone that is sold by Arrowhead Alpines Nursery that is hardy north to zone 5 ( generally this species is not hardy this far north ).
Despite its exceptional hardiness, it does not look to be a hybrid.

Scintilla
Twisted, very deeply cut leaflets.

Adiantum hispidulum ( Rosy Maidenhair )
A low growing, clumping Fern reaching a maximum height of 2 feet, that is evergreen in the Deep South and deciduous toward the northern limits of its range.
The foliage is similar to Adiantum pedatum but the pinnae, up to 0.3 inches, are reddish at first, turning to glossy deep green.
Hardy zones 7 to 10

Adiantum jordanii ( California Maidenhair )
An attractive groundcover Fern, reaching a maximum height of 2 feet, that is native to the western U.S. from southern Oregon to Baja California. It spreads via short creeping rhizomes.
The leaves, up to 24 inches are 3 pinnate.
Hardy zones 7 to 9

Adiantum pedatum ( Northern Maidenhair Fern )
A very decorative, long-lived, fast growing, rhizomatous, deciduous Fern that forms large dense clumps reaching a maximum size of 3 x 5 feet ( rarely reaching over 2.5 feet in height ), that is easy to grow. Deciduous to semi-evergreen depending on climate.
The Northern Maidenhair is native over much of North America and also in Japan.
The lacy branching fronds, up to 30 x 10 inches, have fan-shaped leaflets. The glossy bright green foliage turns bright golden-yellow during autumn.
The strong erect stalks are shiny and black.
Hardy zones 2 to 8 in partial to full shade on moist, acidic, well drained soil that is rich in humus. It is easy to grow tolerating both acidic and alkaline soils and even the occasional drought once established. Dividing is not required but can be done during autumn or early spring if necessary for propagation. It can also be grown from spores sown outdoors during early autumn.


* photo taken on annual Horticultural Society of Maryland Garden Tour






* photos taken on June 1 2013 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on June 23 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC


subsp Aleuticum
Native mostly to western North America ( Alaska to Montana; south to California to New Mexico ) and Newfoundland, with fast growing clumps reaching a maximum size of 44 inches x 2.5 feet.
The fronds composed of more triangular leaflets, are pinkish at first, turning to blue-green.
Hardy zones 2 to 7.

Asiaticum
Reaches up to 2 feet with drooping fronds.

Billingsiae
Broader, blue-green, slightly ruffled segments or leaflets.

Imbricatum
Smaller growing with cascading, blue-green fronds made up of large, deeply lobed leaflets.
Forms a clump up 8 inches x 2.5 feet.

var. Japonicum
Closely related to subsp Aleuticum, reaching up to 16 inches in height, with fronds that are orangish-pink at first, turning to mid-green.

Laceratum
Similar to species except with deeply-cut leaflets.

Miss Sharples
Yellow-green fronds.

Adiantum peruvium ( Silver Dollar Fern )
Reaching up to 3 feet in height, this Fern beards fronds with 2 inch leaf segments.
The new fronds are metallic silvery-pink. It is deciduous going dormant in the winter.
Hardy zones 11, this native of Equador, Peru and Bolivia does not tolerate frosts.

Adiantum raddianum
A rhizome spreading groundcover Fern reaching up to 2 x 2 feet.
Hardy zones 9b to 11 in partial to full shade.

Kensington Gem
Very robust with fronds reaching up to 36 x 4 inches.

Adiantum venustum ( Himalayan Maidenhair )
A beautiful semi-evergreen to evergreen Fern native to the Himalayas, that forms a clump reaching a maximum size of 4 x 3.3 feet. It is slow to establish, but once established will become strong growing and spread to form broad dense colonies. The Himalayan Maidenhair may form a clump up to 40 inches across in 5 years. The Himalayan Maidenhair is an excellent groundcover plant.
The foliage is similar to that of Adiantum capillus-veneris, being composed of leaflets up to 0.3 inches. The fresh new foliage is spring is pink. A single frond may have up to 200 tiny leaflets giving this plant the ultimate fine-texture.
Hardy zones 3 to 8 ( protected sites only north of 5 ). The foliage remains evergreen to as low as 15 F.

* photo taken on May 8 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.

* photo taken on May 26 2013 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Sep 1 2013 in Columbia, MD


Adiantum vivesii
A colonial creeping rhizomatous groundcover Fern. The lustrous black-purple stalks up to 1.5 feet in height bear fronds, up to 2.5 feet with broad irrgular blades, up to 11 x 1.5 inches. It is native to the middle elevations of Puerto Rico where it is extremely endangered. Less than 1000 remain in the wild.
Hardy zones 10 to 11