09/06/2026
Adiantum capillus-veneris (Southern Maidenhair Fern)
By Kathryn Copley, Extension Master Gardener Volunteer
Ferns are one of the most versatile plants to add texture and softness to a shade garden. When planted in the right conditions, they add an airy and ethereal touch to a shady area. If you have issues with deer eating your hostas, substitute them with maidenhair ferns, as deer seldom bother them.
The Southern Maidenhair Fern 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. These beautiful ferns should receive a few hours of early morning sun only if planted in partial shade. The fronds will turn brown if they are kept too dry or in too much sun.
It can also be propagated by division. It needs 12 inches to 3 feet of planting space and grows about 10in. to 2-ft. high and wide. It is low maintenance and 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. The new fiddleheads will have a pink cast when emerging in the spring. It is cold-hardy from USDA planting zones 3 through 9.
List of cultivars/varieties: 'Alabama Lace', 'Banksianum', 'Fimbriata'
