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Northern maidenhair fern

Adiantum pedatum. Family Pteridaceae. Fern.

Also called Five-fingered maidenhair fern, American maidenhair fern.

This deciduous woodland fern has fine green leaflets arranged in broad, almost circular fans on slender black stems. Gardeners grow it for its delicate texture in cool, moist shade, especially beside paths and beneath deciduous trees.

Hardiness

USDA zones 3a to 8b

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Grows outdoors in the shaded zones. Select a zone to see what else grows there.

At a glance

Sun
Partial to full shade; gentle morning sun is suitable where the soil stays moist. Avoid hot afternoon sun and exposed, windy sites.
Water
Keep the root zone consistently moist but not waterlogged. Water deeply during dry spells; drought can cause the fronds to brown and die back early.
Soil
Humus-rich, moisture-retentive soil with good drainage. Slightly acidic to alkaline soil is suitable; it often thrives in lime-rich woodland soils.
Height
1-2.5 ft (0.3-0.75 m)
Spread
1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m), gradually wider in favourable conditions
Foliage
Fine, light- to medium-green leaflets on branching, glossy dark stems. The fronds form flattened, horseshoe-shaped fans and die back for winter.
Growth
Slow to moderate, spreading gradually by short rhizomes
Care needed
Low

Care

  • Water during dry weather before the soil dries out completely.
  • Apply a thin layer of leaf mould or well-rotted compost each spring, keeping the crown uncovered.
  • Shelter from drying winds and strong afternoon sun.
  • Avoid routine feeding in rich soil; use a light application of balanced fertiliser in spring only if growth is weak.
  • Divide established clumps in early spring only when you need more plants; frequent division is unnecessary.

Pruning. Cut dead fronds back near ground level in late winter or early spring before new shoots unfurl. Remove damaged fronds individually, taking care not to cut emerging growth.

Through the year

Late winter
Remove dead fronds before fresh shoots appear.
Early spring
Plant or divide while the soil is moist and new growth is just beginning.
Spring
Top-dress with leaf mould or well-rotted compost without burying the crown.
Summer
Check soil moisture during dry spells and water deeply when needed.
Autumn
Let fronds die back naturally and retain a light covering of fallen leaves around the clump.

In the garden

  • Plant beside shaded paths where the dark stems and fan-shaped fronds can be seen closely.
  • Combine with hostas and broad-leaved woodland perennials for contrasting leaf textures.
  • Repeat small groups beneath deciduous trees where roots have access to moisture.
  • Use beside shaded rocks or the upper edge of a pond, above permanently saturated soil.

Garden styles it suits: Woodland, Japanese, Secret garden, Cottage garden, Green on green and Moss and fern garden.

Plant it with: Hostas, Foamflower, Wild ginger, Solomon's seal, Astilbes and Christmas fern.

Wildlife: Provides low cover for small woodland animals and invertebrates. It has no flowers or nectar, and deer generally leave it alone, though browsing is still possible.

Problems to watch for

  • Brown, crisp fronds usually indicate dry soil, strong sun or drying wind; water deeply, mulch and provide more shelter.
  • Crown or root rot can develop in waterlogged soil; improve drainage and move affected plants out of persistently saturated ground.
  • Slugs and snails may damage emerging fronds; hand-pick after dark and use a labelled iron-phosphate bait if necessary.

Safety

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people. No part is recognised as a serious poisoning hazard, but it is not a food plant and should not be eaten.

Easily confused with

  • Western maidenhair fern (Adiantum aleuticum)

    Very similar and formerly included within A. pedatum. Its frond divisions often rise more steeply rather than forming such a flat fan, but reliable identification may require close examination of leaflet shape and a reg…

  • Southern maidenhair fern (Adiantum capillus-veneris)

    Has looser, triangular fronds with wedge-shaped leaflets rather than the distinctive horseshoe-shaped arrangement of northern maidenhair. It is also much less cold-hardy.

The name

Adiantum comes from Greek meaning 'unwetted', referring to the water-shedding foliage, while pedatum means 'foot-like', describing the branching arrangement of the frond.

Propagation. Divide a mature clump in early spring, keeping several buds and a good portion of roots on each division. Spores can also be sown on a clean, moist growing medium, but raising plants this way is slow and requires careful humidity control.

Checked against open data

Accepted botanical name
Adiantum pedatum
In the US and Canada
Native in Canada and the lower 48 states.
Native range
Alabama, Alaska, Amur, Arkansas, Assam, China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia and East Himalaya.
Measured
Average height 39 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.

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