Maidenhair Fern

Common Names

Maidenhair Fern, Southern Maidenhair Fern, Common Maidenhair Fern, Venus Hair Fern, Black Maidenhair Fern, Venus Maidenhair Fern, Venus's Hair Fern, Venus Hair, Capillaire

Summary

Maidenhair fern, also called Venus hair or Southern Maidenhair, is a small, delicate fern with black wiry stems and light-green, lace-like, twice-divided fronds arising from creeping rhizomes, it typically forms a low to medium mound, about 6 inches to 1 foot tall, with a wide distribution across temperate and tropical regions worldwide, often growing on rock faces, crevices of cliffs, banks along streams, or near natural springs. Care and use center on moist, well-drained soil that is neutral to alkaline, with semi-shade to full shade and bright indirect light, high humidity is beneficial, and hot, dry winds should be avoided. Water regularly to keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged, it can be grown as a garden fern or houseplant and is suitable for containers, shade gardens, woodland settings, rock walls, and groundcover in moist areas, propagation by division or spores is possible.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

12-24 inches

Spread

10-24 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 6a-9b

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally Partial Shade; can range from Partial Shade to Full Shade and prefers bright indirect or dappled light, keeping out of direct sun.

Soil Type

Moist, well-drained loamy soil rich in organic matter, pH 6.0–7.5

Soil Drainage

Moist, well-drained soil.

Soil pH

7.0-8.0, Neutral to alkaline

Bloom Time

Does not bloom.

Foliage Color

Bright green, Light green

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous, Semi-deciduous

Growth Rate

Slow growth, 2–5 years to reach its ultimate height.

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter

Propagation Methods

Spores, Division, Nursery transplants

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts none of bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, other pollinators, or birds