Adiantum aleuticum

Common Names

Aleutian Maidenhair, Western Maidenhair Fern, Western Maidenhair, Maidenhair Fern, Five-Finger Fern

Summary

Adiantum aleuticum, Aleutian maidenhair or Western maidenhair, is a deciduous or semi-evergreen fern native to western North America, forms clumps about 12–30 inches tall and wide, with dark stems bearing bright green fronds that are pedately divided into oblong segments, creating a delicate, airy, fan- or funnel-shaped appearance, it prefers shade to partial shade with consistently moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter and tolerates a range of soils from chalk to sand, it is hardy in USDA zones 3–9 and propagates by spores or division, the plant is generally disease-free and deer resistant, though scale insects can affect plants under glass, it suits shade gardens, woodland plantings, containers, rock gardens near water, and erosion control in moist, shaded sites.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

1-2.5 feet

Spread

12-24 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 3-8

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally Partial Shade to Full Shade

Soil Type

Moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil

Soil Drainage

Moist but well-drained soil

Soil pH

Tolerates all pH levels

Bloom Time

Does not bloom in any season.

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Green, yellow, or red (or more than one color)

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous, Semi-deciduous (semi-evergreen) depending on climate

Growth Rate

Moderate growth rate

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter

Propagation Methods

Spores, Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees and other pollinating insects, Attracts birds