Toothed Spleenwort Asplenium trichomanes
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Asplenium saxatile var. incisum
- Phonetic Spelling
- ah-SPLEE-nee-um try-KAW-ma-nees
- Description
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Maidenhair spleenwort is a small, evergreen herbaceous perennial in the Spleenwort family (Aspleniaceae). It is cosmopolitan in its distribution and includes most of the U.S. in its native range. It naturally occurs in shady rock crevices. Several subspecies are recognized, but our plants belong to Asplenium trichomanes subsp. trichomanes. The species epithet is an ancient Greek name for a fern.
The optimum setting is moist humus among limestone rocks. It performs best in a humid climate.
It is a short, dainty, fragile-looking, native fern with creeping or ascending rhizomes. It grows about 7 inches high and wide. It requires moisture along with good drainage. This plant reproduces by spores, but it can be propagated by rootstock division. When potting, you may want to create a humid climate by covering the pot with plastic until the plant is well established.
Maintenance is not an issue, as little special care is required. Consider planting in a location that protects the fern from winter and early spring winds. Locations include containers, rock gardens or rock walls, and shade gardens.
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:
- Asplenium
- Species:
- trichomanes
- Family:
- Aspleniaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Cosmopolitan
- Play Value:
- Easy to Grow
- Textural
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer, Heavy Shade
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 4 in. - 0 ft. 7 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 4 in. - 0 ft. 7 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Fern
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Creeping
- Dense
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
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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)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- No fruits. This plant reproduces via spores.
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Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- No flowers.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Fronds
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Forms dense, tufted rosettes of deep green evergreen fronds. Late-sprouting, fertile, arching fronds from 10 to 100 more pairs of rounded pinnae. Its sterile fronds lie on the ground once pinnate. .5 in. wide with many oblong pinnae.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Black
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- The Stems are dark brown and may be branched.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Rock Wall
- Small Space
- Landscape Theme:
- Rock Garden
- Shade Garden
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Heavy Shade
