Adiantum pedatum (Maidenhair Fern) Unity Grown

Adiantum pedatum, commonly called maidenhair fern, is an elegant, native perennial fern that stands out from other ferns of the eastern US due to its shiny, dark midrib and its delicate, nearly circular arrangement of fronds that fan out from its central stem. Differing from many other North American ferns, Adiantum pedatum produces fronds atop of, rather than along, its central stems, which grow up from a dense mat of creeping, rhizomatic roots. Maidenhair fern prefers cool, moist soil in partial or full shade, but can also thrive in hot humid climates as long as the soil does not remain dry for extended periods.

This deciduous fern is an easy to grow, low maintenance addition to shady gardens and naturalized woodland areas, and functions as an excellent ornamental and partial groundcover at a manageable height of 12-30" tall and up to about a foot wide, both shading and crowding out weeds as they grow in dense patches. Adiantum pedatum is compact enough to be grown in containers, but extra care must be taken to ensure that the ferns don't dry out since their spreading roots take up a lot of water in such a small space. While ferns do not produce flowers, they are an important food source for a number of larval moth and butterflies; in this instance, maidenhair fern is a host for the Florida Fern caterpillar (Callopistria floridensis).