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Adiantum capillus-veneris (Southern maidenhair fern)
Marcus, Joseph A.

Adiantum capillus-veneris L.

Southern maidenhair fern, Common maidenhair fern, Maidenhair fern, Venus hair fern

Pteridaceae (Maidenhair Fern Family)

USDA Symbol: adca

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

This plant has specific growing requirements that must be met to be successful in a garden setting. Though it lacks the fan-like pattern of Northern maidenhair, the fine, lacy foliage of Southern maidenhair has the same a graceful, delicate character. This fern grows from 6 inches to 1 foot in height; its fronds arising in clusters from creeping rhizomes.

Listed as an endangered species in North Carolina (known as southern maidenhair-fern there) and threatened in Kentucky (known as venus hair fern there). Mostly found in the lower half of the U.S.and some parts of the tropics, the only Canadian site is near Fairmont Hot Springs, B.C.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Fern
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Leaf Venation: Dichotomous
Size Notes: Height 6-20 inches.
Leaf: Green
Flower:
Fruit:
Size Class: 0-1 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Not Applicable
Bloom Notes: Not a flowering plant. Reproduces by spores.

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , AZ , CA , CO , FL , GA , HI , KY , LA , MD , MO , MS , NC , NM , NV , OH , OK , SC , SD , TN , TX , UT , VA
Canada: BC
Native Distribution: VA to FL, w. to KY, s. MO, s.w. CO & CA; south to South America. Also Eurasia.
Native Habitat: Limestone kept moist by moving water in shade
USDA Native Status: L48(N), HI(N), PR(N), CAN(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium , High
Light Requirement: Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist , Wet
Soil pH: Alkaline (pH>7.2)
CaCO3 Tolerance: High
Cold Tolerant: yes
Heat Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Moist, well-drained sand, loam or limestone. Can occur as an attached mass growing directly on rock outcroppings where moisture is present
Conditions Comments: It prefers moisture year-round. Without watering, it will go dormant by July. Where water and drainage are adequate, the plant makes a lush ground cover. It is often used in crevices of rock walls and well-drained cobbles, especially in cool, north exposures.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Ground cover in the right circumstances, bog edge plant
Interesting Foliage: yes
Deer Resistant: High

Propagation

Propagation Material: Root Division
Description: Propagated by rhizome division or spores.
Commercially Avail: yes
Maintenance: Dead foliage can be cut back whenever necessary to keep plants fresh looking.

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Ground cover for trails in Northeast Texas
January 09, 2008
I have several acres of wooded land in Northeast Texas, Southern Lamar County. Both sandy and black land. I have created trails through the woods and would like to plant a native ground cover or gras...
view the full question and answer

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
Brackenridge Field Laboratory - Austin, TX
Nueces River Authority - Uvalde, TX
NPSOT - Austin Chapter - Austin, TX

Bibliography

Bibref 996 - Gardening with Native Plants of the South (1994) Wasowski, Sally and Andy Wasowski
Bibref 293 - Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas (1979) Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston
Bibref 1210 - Native Ferns, Moss, and Grasses: From Emerald Carpet to Amber Wave, Serene and Sensuous Plants for theGarden (2008) William Cullina
Bibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski

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Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Adiantum capillus-veneris in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Adiantum capillus-veneris in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Adiantum capillus-veneris

Metadata

Record Modified: 2009-02-21
Research By: TWC Staff

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