Toothed Spleenwort Asplenium trichomanes
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Asplenium incisum
- Phonetic Spelling
- ah-SPLEE-nee-um try-KAW-ma-nees
- Description
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Maidenhair spleenwort is a short, dainty, fragile-looking native fern with creeping or ascending rhizomes. It naturally occurs in shady rock cervices. It requires moisture along with good drainage. The optimum setting is moist humus among limestone rocks. It performs best in a humid climate.
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.
This plant reproduces by spores. 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.
In some cultures, the dried fronds have been used as a substitute for making for tea. The tea is sweet, serves as an expectorant and laxative.
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
- Perennial
- 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
