Adiantum venustum

Common Names

Himalayan Maidenhair Fern, Himalayan Maidenhair, Evergreen Maidenhair, Evergreen Maidenhair Fern, Maidenhair Fern, Black Hansraj

Summary

Himalayan Maidenhair Fern is native to the Himalayan region and China, and grows as a slow-spreading groundcover via creeping rhizomes. It features delicate, triangular fronds on black stalks with many fan-shaped segments; new fronds emerge bronze to pink before maturing to green. It reaches about 6–8 inches in height and 1–3 feet in width, forming a low, evergreen to semi-evergreen mat in shaded areas.

Prefers shade to partial shade with evenly moist, well-drained soil; avoid hot afternoon sun and waterlogged sites; keep soil consistently moist and provide humidity (misting encouraged in low humidity). Fertilize at half strength during the growing season. Deer resistant and well-suited as ground cover for woodland gardens, borders, containers, and edging in shaded landscapes.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

0.5-2.5 feet

Spread

2-3 ft

Hardiness Zones

Zones 5-8

Sunlight Requirements

Partial shade to full shade.

Soil Type

Moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil

Soil Drainage

Moist and well-drained soil.

Soil pH

5.5-7

Bloom Color

Insignificant

Bloom Time

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Foliage Color

Green, with seasonal variations including bluish-green in fall, bronze-tinged in winter, and new fronds that can be bronze-pink or have a salmon flush.

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Semi-deciduous

Growth Rate

Slow growth; slow to establish; slowly spreading by rhizomes; reaches about 3 ft wide in 5–10 years; reaches full height in ~10 years (0.1–0.5 m); spreads 0.5–1 m.

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Propagation Methods

Spores, Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees and other pollinators