Maidenhair Fern Adiantum raddianum
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ae-dee-AN-tum rad-dee-AE-num
- Description
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The Delta maidenhair is a herbaceous perennial plant in the Ribbon-fern family (Pteridaceae). It is native to the Tropical Americas and West Indies. The genus name comes from the Greek word adiantos meaning unwetted in reference to the water-repellent foliage. The specific epithet honors Italian botanist Giuseppe Raddi (1770–1829).
This fern needs partial shade to shade but loses vitality in too much shade or full sun. It needs moist to wet soil and the roots should not be allowed to dry out. It spreads by creeping rhizomes. It grows 1 to 2 feet high and wide.
The Delta maidenhair fern is often grown as a houseplant and does well if kept in bathrooms, where it is more humid. The fern does well in terrariums or in sheltered rock gardens in wet pebbles and soil.
Quick ID Hints:
- Fronds decompound, membranous, in flat planes
- Pinnae in flat planes
- Pinnules triangular, lobed
- Sori marginal covered by revolute marginal flap
- Stipe & rachis wiry, black
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No significant diseases or pests. 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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- 'Brilliantelse'
foliage has pinkish to violet new growth that matures to green, dense habit - 'Fragrantissimum'
soft fragrance, light green fronds with black stems, popular houseplant - ‘Fritz Lüthi’
large pinnae, deeply lobed, large triangular shaped blade - ‘Kensington Gem’
fronds have small, delicate green leaves and black stems - 'Microphyllum'
dwarf, up to 12 inches tall, compact - 'Red Venus'
delicate, red foliage that matures to a light green, - 'Variegatum' or Snowflake Fern
delicate, light green leaves with flecks of white variegation
- 'Brilliantelse'
- 'Brilliantelse', 'Fragrantissimum', ‘Fritz Lüthi’, ‘Kensington Gem’, 'Microphyllum', 'Red Venus', 'Variegatum' or Snowflake Fern
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Brilliantelse'
foliage has pinkish to violet new growth that matures to green, dense habit - 'Fragrantissimum'
soft fragrance, light green fronds with black stems, popular houseplant - ‘Fritz Lüthi’
large pinnae, deeply lobed, large triangular shaped blade - ‘Kensington Gem’
fronds have small, delicate green leaves and black stems - 'Microphyllum'
dwarf, up to 12 inches tall, compact - 'Red Venus'
delicate, red foliage that matures to a light green, - 'Variegatum' or Snowflake Fern
delicate, light green leaves with flecks of white variegation
- 'Brilliantelse'
- 'Brilliantelse', 'Fragrantissimum', ‘Fritz Lüthi’, ‘Kensington Gem’, 'Microphyllum', 'Red Venus', 'Variegatum' or Snowflake Fern
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Adiantum
- Species:
- raddianum
- Family:
- Pteridaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Tropical Americas and West Indies
- Distribution:
- Tropical Americas and West Indies
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- This plant is seldom damaged by deer.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Fern
- Houseplant
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Clumping
- Creeping
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- No fruit; reproduces via spores
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Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- No flowers.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Fronds
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Other/more complex
- Leaf Shape:
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Delicate, lace-likec lustered fronds, clump forming. 1-5-pinnate, arching, 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
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Patio
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
