Maidenhair Fern

Maidenhair Fern: The Hardy Native Northern Maidenhair for Shade Gardens

Maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum), also called northern maidenhair fern, is a hardy native fern with lacy, fan-shaped fronds on glossy black stems. Maidenhair fern grows 1 to 2 feet tall, thrives in partial to full shade, and is hardy in USDA zones 3–8. TN Nursery ships dormant bare-root plants, Buy 1 Get 1 Free.

Northern maidenhair fern is native to the rich, moist hardwood forests of eastern North America, from southern Canada south through the Appalachian Mountains, including the coves and ravines of Tennessee. The fern belongs to the maidenhair fern family, Pteridaceae. Other common names include five-finger fern and American maidenhair fern. The species name pedatum means "like a bird's foot," a nod to the way each frond splits into curving, finger-like arms.

• Botanical name: Adiantum pedatum, family Pteridaceae
• Also called: northern maidenhair fern, five-finger fern, American maidenhair fern
• Foliage: airy, fan-shaped fronds with small green leaflets on shiny purple-black stems
• Season: fronds unfurl pink-tinged in April, stay fresh green through summer and turn soft gold in fall
• Best uses: shade gardens, woodland paths, rock walls, stream banks, north-facing beds and beside water features
• Wildlife value: fronds give cover to small woodland wildlife; rarely browsed by deer or rabbits
• What ships: dormant bare-root plants in Buy 1 Get 1 Free, Buy 3 Get 2 Free, Buy 5 Get 3 Free and 25-plant wholesale bundles

What Does a Maidenhair Fern Look Like?

A maidenhair fern looks like a delicate green fan held flat above the ground on a thin, polished black stem. Each frond forks into a horseshoe shape, and five to seven arms carry rows of tiny, oblong leaflets.

The fine texture and dark stems make maidenhair fern one of the most graceful native ferns for the garden. Planted on a slope or wall, the fronds layer and cascade, which gives the plant its name: the stems resemble dark, glossy hair. Water beads up on the leaflets after rain, giving the fern a fresh, silvery sheen.

Is Maidenhair Fern an Indoor or Outdoor Plant?

Northern maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum) is an outdoor garden fern that is cold hardy to zone 3 and needs a winter rest. The maidenhair ferns sold as houseplants are warm-climate species, such as delta maidenhair fern (Adiantum raddianum) and southern maidenhair fern (Adiantum capillus-veneris).

Because northern maidenhair fern goes dormant each winter and returns each spring, the fern belongs in the ground in a shade garden, woodland bed or large outdoor planter. The fronds die back after frost and fresh fiddleheads appear again in April.

How Do You Care for a Maidenhair Fern Outdoors?

To care for a maidenhair fern outdoors, plant it in partial to full shade, keep the soil evenly moist, and mulch the bed with shredded leaves. Northern maidenhair fern grows best in rich, humus-rich, well-drained soil with a neutral to slightly acidic pH.

Water once or twice a week during the first season, especially in dry summer weeks. Established maidenhair ferns need watering only in long dry spells. Leave fallen leaves on the bed in autumn; they insulate the rhizomes and feed the soil. No fertilizer is needed in compost-rich soil. Cut the faded fronds back in late winter, before new fiddleheads appear.

How Big Do Maidenhair Ferns Get?

Northern maidenhair ferns grow 1 to 2 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide, and the largest fronds can reach 2½ feet in rich, moist soil. The fern spreads slowly by short creeping rhizomes into a full, graceful colony over several years.

Space maidenhair ferns 12 to 18 inches apart for a continuous groundcover, or 18 to 24 inches apart for individual clumps. A group of 5 to 8 plants fills a shady corner nicely, and 25 plants cover a woodland path edge or stream bank.

What Grows Well With Maidenhair Fern?

Woodland natives that love moist shade grow well with maidenhair fern. Foamflower and wild ginger carpet the soil around the fronds. Virginia bluebells, bloodroot and Jack-in-the-pulpit add spring flowers. Christmas fern keeps the bed green in winter, and lady fern adds a taller, upright texture. Browse more options in our shade ferns collection or see all ferns for sale.

How Do You Plant a Bare-Root Maidenhair Fern?

Plant a bare-root maidenhair fern with the rhizome 1 inch below the soil surface and the growing tips facing up, then water well. Plant in fall or early spring while the fern is dormant.

TN Nursery digs maidenhair ferns while dormant and ships them bare root, with no soil around the roots. Each plant arrives as a dark, wiry rhizome with fine roots and growing buds, often with no fronds, which is normal for a dormant fern.

1. Soak the roots in water for 1 to 2 hours.
2. Dig a shallow hole and mix in compost or leaf mold.
3. Set the rhizome 1 inch deep with the buds facing up.
4. Space plants 12 to 24 inches apart.
5. Water deeply and cover with 1 inch of shredded leaves.

Planting & Growing Information

Botanical Name: Adiantum pedatum
Plant Family: Pteridaceae
Ships: Bare root, dormant
Planting Zone: 3–8
Height at Maturity: 1–2 feet, occasionally to 2½ feet
Spread: 1–2 feet
Sun or Shade: Partial to full shade
Water Needs: Moderate to high; keep soil evenly moist
Soil: Rich, humus-rich, well-drained soil, neutral to slightly acidic
Foliage Season: April–October (deciduous; returns each spring)
Flowers: None; ferns reproduce by spores
Native Range: Eastern North America, southern Canada south through the Appalachians
Care: Mulch with shredded leaves, water in dry spells, and trim old fronds in late winter.
Plant Attributes: Native fern, fine lacy texture, black stems, deer resistant, shade tolerant

Maidenhair Fern FAQ

Does maidenhair fern come back every year?

Yes. Northern maidenhair fern is a hardy perennial fern that goes dormant in winter and sends up new fronds every spring.

What zones does maidenhair fern grow in?

Northern maidenhair fern grows outdoors in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 8.

Can maidenhair fern grow in full shade?

Yes. Northern maidenhair fern grows well in full shade and partial shade, including the deep shade under hardwood trees and along north walls.

What is the scientific name of maidenhair fern?

The scientific name of northern maidenhair fern is Adiantum pedatum, in the family Pteridaceae.

Is maidenhair fern deer resistant?

Yes. Deer and rabbits rarely browse maidenhair fern, so the fern is a dependable choice for woodland gardens near forest edges.

Does maidenhair fern spread?

Northern maidenhair fern spreads slowly by short creeping rhizomes, forming a full, graceful colony over several years.

Grown and Shipped by TN Nursery

TN Nursery has grown hardy native plants since 1959, more than 65 years of experience, and has supplied plants to major U.S. landmarks like the Washington Monument and Arlington National Cemetery. At our Altamont, Tennessee nursery, we grow and ship native ferns like northern maidenhair fern to shade gardens across the country. Each order is dug while dormant and packed bare root so the ferns settle in quickly. Want to learn more first? Read Maidenhair Fern Care, Top Small Ferns for Shade and Why Native Ferns Grow Best in Your Garden on our garden blog.