Southern Maidenhair Fern Adiantum capillus-veneris
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Adiantum capillus-veneris f. rimicola
- Adiantum capillus-veneris var. modestum
- Adiantum capillus-veneris var. protrusum
- Phonetic Spelling
- ae-dee-AN-tum ca-PILL-us VEN-er-iss
- Description
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The Southern Maidenhair is a deciduous, perennial fern in the Ribbon-fern family (Pteridaceae). It is native to temperate and tropical regions worldwide. The genus name comes from the Greek word adiantos, meaning “unwetted,” in reference to the water-repellent foliage. The specific epithet comes from Latin meaning hair (capillus) of Venus (veneris) and is reflected by its other common name, Venus maidenhair fern.
The fern spreads by short, creeping rhizomes and prefers moist, humus-rich, alkaline to neutral soil in partial shade to shade. It needs 12 inches to 3 feet of planting space and grows about 10 inches to 2 feet high and wide. It is low maintenance but requires moist but not saturated soil and fertilizer, especially when potted. This fern is listed as Endangered in North Carolina due to loss of habitat.
The Southern Maidenhair fern can be grown almost anywhere that provides suitable conditions. This includes containers, native gardens, woodlands, and shade gardens.
Quick ID Hints:
- Fronds twice-compound, membranous
- Pinnae in flat planes
- Pinnules triangular, lobed
- Sori marginal covered by revolute marginal flap
- Stipe & rachis wiry, black
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:
No significant problems. The Florida Fern Caterpillar can be a problem.
VIDEO Created by NC State Extension's Homegrown series featuring Mark Weathington, Director of JC Raulston Arboretum.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Alabama Lace'
typical lacy fronds with black stems, but it is denser and spreads faster - 'Banksianum'
bright green oval-shaped leaflets with black leaf stems, up to 18 inches tall - 'Fimbriata'
fringed, soft green leaves
- 'Alabama Lace'
- 'Alabama Lace', 'Banksianum', 'Fimbriata'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alabama Lace'
typical lacy fronds with black stems, but it is denser and spreads faster - 'Banksianum'
bright green oval-shaped leaflets with black leaf stems, up to 18 inches tall - 'Fimbriata'
fringed, soft green leaves
- 'Alabama Lace'
- 'Alabama Lace', 'Banksianum', 'Fimbriata'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Adiantum
- Species:
- capillus-veneris
- Family:
- Pteridaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Temperate and tropical regions worldwide
- Distribution:
- Temperate and tropical regions worldwide
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer, Heavy Shade
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 10 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 10 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Fern
- Houseplant
- Native Plant
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Clumping
- Creeping
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Description:
- No fruits. Spores display from June to July.
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Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- No flowers.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Fronds
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Other/more complex
- Leaf Shape:
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Delicate, bright green fronds are bipinnate to tripinnate, arching or pendent with 3 to 6 pairs of pinnae. Segments are fan-shaped and .25 to .75 in. long. weakly glaucous beneath, membraneous; pinnae often decompound, flabellately branched; pinnules/leaflets somewhat triangular, broadly cuneate, lobed, sterile lobes cut deeply. Stipe/petiole wiry, shiny black or tinged purple. SORI round to elongated, covered my revolute pinnule marginal flap.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Black
- Brown/Copper
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Naturalized Area
- Small Space
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Shade Garden
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Heavy Shade
