Northern Maidenhair Fern

Northern Maidenhair Fern

Adiantum pedatum

Height: 1 – 2 1/2 feet

Spread: 1 – 1 1/2 feet

Habitat: Shaded rich woodlands, rocky hillsides, and ravines

Wildlife Value: Its fronds provide shelter to small animals like toads and lizards.

Home Garden: Excellent for adding texture to your garden. Its interesting foliage and ability to grow in shade makes it a nice ground cover under trees. Keep moist as this plant is not drought tolerant. It grows well as a shaded border, woodland garden, shaded rock garden, or native plant garden.

Fun Facts: Many indigenous tribes used the black stalks to weave decorative designs into baskets. Indigenous people used leaves to relieve aches and make a tea to treat respiratory conditions such as coughing. Maidenhair fern was thought in Colonial Time to treat baldness and promote lustrous hair.