The Southern Maidenhair is a deciduous, perennial fern in the Ribbon-fern family (Pteridaceae). It is native to temperate and tropical regions worldwide. The genus name comes from the Greek word adiantos , meaning “unwetted,” in reference to the water-repellent foliage. The specific epithet comes from Latin meaning hair ( capillus ) of Venus ( veneris ) and is reflected by its other common name, Venus maidenhair fern. The fern spreads by short, creeping rhizomes and prefers moist, humus-rich, alkaline to neutral soil in partial shade to shade. It needs 12 inches to 3 feet of planting space and grows about 10 inches to 2 feet high and wide. It is low maintenance but requires moist but not saturated soil and fertilizer, especially when potted. This fern is listed as Endangered in North Carolina due to loss of habitat. The Southern Maidenhair fern can be grown almost anywhere that provides suitable conditions. This includes containers, native gardens, woodlands, and shade gardens. Quick ID Hints: Fronds twice-compound, membranous Pinnae in flat planes Pinnules triangular, lobed Sori marginal covered by revolute marginal flap Stipe & rachis wiry, black Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. The Florida Fern Caterpillar can be a problem. VIDEO Created by NC State Extension's Homegrown series featuring Mark Weathington , Director of JC Raulston Arboretum . More information on Adiantum .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Moist
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 10 in. - 2 ft. 0 in. | Width: 0 ft. 10 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Delicate, bright green fronds are bipinnate to tripinnate, arching or pendent with 3 to 6 pairs of pinnae. Segments are fan-shaped and .25 to .75 in. long. weakly glaucous beneath, membraneous; pinnae often decompound, flabellately branched; pinnules/leaflets somewhat triangular, broadly cuneate, lobed, sterile lobes cut deeply. Stipe/petiole wiry, shiny black or tinged purple. SORI round to elongated, covered my revolute pinnule marginal flap.
Flower detail
No flowers.
Fruit detail
No fruits. Spores display from June to July.
Stem color
Black; Brown/Copper; Purple/Lavender
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Temperate and tropical regions worldwide
Distribution
Temperate and tropical regions worldwide
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Summer
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Naturalized Area; Small Space; Woodland