Maidenhair Fern

Adiantum aleuticum (formerly Adiantum pedatum) Maidenhair fern is a dainty, deciduous fern that is ideal for shady, moist garden areas with high organic matter. It unfurls its delicately-fanned fronds from striking black stems in April and fades back during dry summer months. You’ll often find this gem in rocky crevices near flowing water or in the spray of a waterfall in natural areas like Forest Park and the Columbia Gorge. This stunning plant spreads slowly by rhizome, eventually forming a groundcover, and is also a reliable choice for areas with a deer problem.  Plant type/canopy layer: deciduous, perennial, fern Size at maturity: 12"-18" tall, 12"-18" wide Light requirements: full shade, part sun/part shade Moisture requirements: moist to wet soil, well-drained  Growth rate/ease: medium growth rate, moderately difficult to grow Native habitat/range: grows in wet/riparian, usually shaded sites, often rocky up to 2300m. Abundant in and west of the Cascades throughout the