Southern Maidenhair Fern Adiantum capillus-veneris
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ae-dee-AN-tum ca-PILL-us VEN-er-iss
- Description
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A deciduous, clumping fern native to temperate and tropical regions worldwide. Genus name comes from the Greek word adiantos meaning unwetted in reference to the water repellent foliage. Specific epithet comes from Latin meaning hair (capillus) of Venus (veneris) as reflected by its common name of "Venus maidenhair fern".
Spreads by short, creeping rhizomes and prefers moist, humus, rich alkaline to neutral soil in partial shade to shade. Listed as endangered in North Carolina due to loss of Appalachian habitat.
Quick ID Hints:
- Fronds decompound, membraneous, in flat planes
- Pinnae in flat planes
- Pinnules triangular, lobed
- Sori marginal covered by revolute marginal flap
- Stipe & rachis wiry, black
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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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 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
