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northern maidenhair fern
ExplorePlants
northern maidenhair fern
Adiantum pedatum
The northern maidenhair fern is a beautiful plant with delicate, fan-shaped leaves. It loves to grow in shady, moist places and adds a touch of green to forests and gardens.
Habitat: Forests
Appearance
The northern maidenhair fern has delicate, bright green, fan-shaped leaflets arranged on distinctive shiny, black, wiry stems that resemble fine hair. Its fronds are circular to semicircular, creating a unique layered umbrella effect that sets it apart from other ferns.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassPolypodiopsidaOrderPolypodialesFamilyPteridaceaeGenusAdiantum
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Ancient peoples sometimes used this fern to make a sweet syrup to help with colds!
Instead of flowers, maidenhair ferns make tiny dust-like spores to create new plants.
Its name 'maidenhair' comes from its thin, black stems that look like shiny human hair!
This fern can grow sideways and even upside down on cliffs and rock faces!
Special abilities
Ability
Spore Sprinter
northern maidenhair fern reproduces using tiny spores instead of seeds, which helps it spread easily in moist, shady places.
Ability
Water-Shedding Shield
northern maidenhair fern's fronds naturally repel water, keeping its delicate leaves dry and healthy in very damp conditions.
Ability
Wired for Wind
This fern has strong, dark, wiry stems that help it stand upright and resist bending, even in windy spots.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 30-60 cm
- Spread
- 30-60 cm
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
Ecological connections
eaten by
White-tailed deer
Odocoileus virginianus
Deer may browse its tender fronds.
eaten by
Red slug
Arion rufus
Slugs and snails feed on the delicate leaves.
shelters
Eastern Hemlock
Tsuga canadensis
Thrives in the cool, moist shade provided by these trees.
Traits
Deciduous
Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
Ornamental
Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.
Shade Tolerant
Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
Spore Producing
Spore-producing organisms reproduce by releasing small, often single-celled, reproductive units called spores.
Ancient Lineage
This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always look but don't touch wild plants, as some can be delicate.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is northern maidenhair fern?
30-60 cm
How wide does northern maidenhair fern spread?
30-60 cm
Is northern maidenhair fern edible?
No
Is northern maidenhair fern toxic?
None
What is northern maidenhair fern's lifecycle?
Perennial
Where is northern maidenhair fern usually found?
Forests
Snap Map
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