Adiantum pedatum aka Northern Maidenhair

Adiantum pedatum is also called northern maidenhair fern. It belongs to the fern family Pteridaceae. It grows wild in eastern North America and eastern Asia. It lives in damp woods, on wooded slopes, and in ravines. This fern forms clumps and lives for more than one year. It loses its fronds, or fern leaves, in winter. New growth comes back in spring from rhizomes. These creeping, branching stems grow beneath the soil. They spread at a slow rate and can form large colonies.

Garden plants stand about 1–3 feet [0.30–0.91 metres] tall. Missouri Botanical Garden gives a usual height of 1.5–2 feet [0.46–0.61 metres]. Its listed upper height reaches 2.5 feet [0.76 metres]. Reported spreads range from about 1.5–3 feet [0.46–0.91 metres]. The fronds arch above thin, dark stalks. The stalks may be reddish brown, black, or purple. Pink fiddleheads, the curled young fronds, rise in spring. They then open into fronds with many parts. The blue-green leaves have a fine, light texture. Each frond has a curved stalk at its centre. Finger-like branches spread out around this stalk. Small leaflets with lobed edges give the plant a fan-like shape.

This fern makes neither flowers nor fruit. It grows new plants from spores, not seeds. Light brown patches called sori lie along the leaflet edges. These patches bear spores, and folded leaf edges cover them. The leaves also shed water from their surface. Grow it in part or full shade with good drainage. It prefers moist soil rich in humus, or decayed plant matter. It favours acid soil. NC State also lists neutral and alkaline soils as suitable. Sources place it in USDA hardiness zones 3–8. It needs a moderate amount of water but can bear mild drought.

Use it in woodland beds, native gardens, or shaded borders. It also suits shaded rock gardens and outdoor pots. Its fine leaves contrast with broad leaves, such as those of hostas. Clumps can edge shaded paths or serve as ground cover. Small mammals find shelter beneath the fronds. Birds use plant parts to build nests. Deer seldom cause much damage, and it needs little routine care. Split clumps to raise more plants. Heat, dry soil, and too much sun can brown the fronds. Serious diseases are rare, but Florida fern caterpillars can cause damage.

Plants For A Future lists no known uses as food. It reports no recorded toxicity for this species. This does not prove that the plant is safe to eat. The same source records past uses for coughs and wounds. These are records of past use, not proof of treatment. Other uses include trim for baskets and lining for fruit baskets. People have also used it in hair washes.