Adiantum pedatum L. Five Fingered Maidenhair Fern, American Maidenhair Fern, Northern Maidenhair Fern, or Five Fingered Fern

Adiantum pedatum L, with common fern names being Five Fingered Maidenhair fern, American Maidenhair fern, Northern Maidenhair fern, or Five finger Fern, is wonderful for shade gardens as you can see from the images.

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Five Fingered Maidenhair Fern - Adiantum pedatum L. in a shade garden
Five Fingered Maidenhair Ferns in a Shade Garden - Adiantum pedatum L

Five Fingered Maidenhair ferns are deciduous with growth to approx. 45cm height, and a creeping short rhizome growth to form into a clump.

Stunning black stems and branches leading to green fronds spreading like five fingers, in spring the new fronds can be pink.

The range of this plant is North America, East Asia

Adiantum pedatum L Fern Frond, Five Fingered Maidenhair Fern, American Maidenhair Fern, Northern Maidenhair Fern in shade gardens
Adiantum pedatum L. Fern Frond - Five-fingered Maidenhair

How to Grow Five Fingered Maidenhair Adiantum pedatum

Grow in full shade or partial shade in south, west, or east facing aspects, in sheltered or exposed settings. Shade loving ferns enjoy low maintenance informal garden settings such as beneath trees, bushes, and flower bed borders.

Height and Spread

  • Full Height 0.1 to 0.5 metres taking 5 years to attain full height
  • Spread 0.1-0.5 metres, clump forming

Cultivation

Cultivate in moderately fertile soil outdoors with humidity level medium to high, filtered light, and good ventilation. A monthly feed of a liquid fertiliser can be applied at half strength through the growing season.

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Five Fingered Maidenhair Fern, American Maidenhair Fern, Northern Maidenhair Fern, Five Finger Fern - Adiantum pedatum L
Five Fingered Maidenhair Fern, American Maidenhair Fern, Northern Maidenhair Fern, Five Finger Fern - Adiantum pedatum L

Care of Adiantum pedatum

Five Fingered Maidenhair ferns do not require any pruning.
Damaged fronds can be removed in spring.
When kept under glass you can get issues with scale insects.

Propagate

Propagation is by spores. Plants can also be propagated by dividing the root ball

Diseases

Adiantum pedatum ferns are generally disease free

Name

Adiantum pedatum

Common Names

  • Five Fingered Maidenhair fern
  • Five Finger Maidenhair fern
  • American Maidenhair fern
  • Northern Maidenhair fern
  • Five-fingered fern
  • Five Finger fern

Family Pteridaceae

Genus Adiantum

Ferns

Read more about ferns species for shade gardens

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