Adiantum aethiopicum aka Common Maidenhair Fern

Adiantum aethiopicum has two common names: common and bush maidenhair fern. It stays green year-round and belongs to the Pteridaceae family. It is native to tropical and southern Africa. Its native range also covers Madagascar and Australasia. It grows in Australia, New Zealand, and New Caledonia. Wild plants live in grassland, dunes, scrub, and woods. They form large groups in damp, open spots near creeks. Its range has tropical climates and cool temperate ones.

Garden plants reach about 1.5–1.6 feet [0.46–0.50 metres] tall. They can spread to 1.5 feet [0.46 metres]. One flora account gives a greater stem length: 2.6 feet [0.80 metres]. The plant forms clumps with thin, wiry stalks. Rhizomes and stolons are stems that creep and spread. They let the clumps form colonies. Fronds may stand upright or grow in flat layers. Young fronds start yellow-green, then darken with age. The smooth, shiny stalks range from reddish brown to black. Scales grow at the base of each stalk.

The fronds are pinnate: they divide into smaller parts. They have several levels of these divisions. Small leaflets may look like fans, circles, or diamonds. Their edges may be smooth or have teeth. Some have shallow lobes. Frond blades reach about 1.3 feet [0.41 metres] long. This fern has no flowers or fruit. It has sori, which hold spores, along the leaflet edges. Flaps at those edges hold the spores. Wind carries them away from the parent plant. Growers can use spores to raise new plants. They can also split clumps.

Give this fern bright light but no direct sun. Part shade also suits it. It needs moist, rich soil that drains well. It grows in sand or loam and tolerates clay. For garden growth, use acid to neutral soil. It prefers warmth and humid air. NC State lists USDA hardiness zones 9–11. Its fine fronds suit groundcover, pots, and hanging baskets. It grows indoors, too. Humid kitchens and bathrooms suit it. Once plants take hold, their spread can make them somewhat weedy.

Most insects and diseases cause few problems. Some pests do occur. Watch for scale, spider mites, and mealybugs. Too little water can turn fronds brown. Direct sun can scorch them. Low nutrient levels may turn them yellow. The plant is sensitive to fluoride. The draft records no food uses. It lacks toxicity reports for this species. Traditional remedies use fronds for coughs and chest complaints. Reports also describe astringent effects, which tighten tissues. They also say fronds can cause vomiting. Reports link rhizome preparations with abortion. Use as medicine therefore calls for caution.