Plant Details

Great Plant Picks - The Western maidenhair is one of the most graceful and beautiful of our native ferns. Bright green fronds open like the fingers of a hand perched atop contrasting wiry black stems. Gradually becoming a lush clump of uniquely horizontal and layered fronds, maidenhair softens the shade garden. Adiantum aleuticum looks best in light to deep shade with regular watering. Avoid hot afternoon sun to prevent leaf burn in summer. A location with well-drained soil is best, but this fern will tolerate sandy and clay soils. Avoid water-logged garden sites. Closely related to Adiantum aleuticum is the Northern maidenhair, A. pedatum; in fact, they were once grouped together under one name until botanists separated them. However, the east coast species does not grow well in the Pacific Northwest. The plants gradually lose vigor and fade away. How to tell the difference between the two? A. aleuticum has deep sinuses in the blade lobes, but A. pedatum does not.