The Delta maidenhair is a herbaceous perennial plant in the Ribbon-fern family (Pteridaceae). It is native to the Tropical Americas and West Indies. The genus name comes from the Greek word adiantos meaning unwetted in reference to the water-repellent foliage. The specific epithet honors Italian botanist Giuseppe Raddi (1770–1829). This fern needs partial shade to shade but loses vitality in too much shade or full sun. It needs moist to wet soil and the roots should not be allowed to dry out. It spreads by creeping rhizomes. It grows 1 to 2 feet high and wide. The Delta maidenhair fern is often grown as a houseplant and does well if kept in bathrooms, where it is more humid. The fern does well in terrariums or in sheltered rock gardens in wet pebbles and soil. Quick ID Hints : Fronds decompound, membranous, in flat planes Pinnae in flat planes Pinnules triangular, lobed Sori marginal covered by revolute marginal flap Stipe & rachis wiry, black Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No significant diseases or pests. 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.