Adiantum capillus-veneris

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Venus Maidenhair Fern, Southern Maidenhair

Pteridaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:Fern
Size:Hanging or low-growing fern, 1-2 ft tall by 1 ft wide
Life Span:Long-lived perennial
Flower Color:NA
Fruit Color:NA
Phenology:Evergreen.
Noted for:Interesting foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Small specimen plant or groundcover. Also grows well as a container plant. A good addition to a rock garden. Prefers settings that are well drained but moist (Osario 2001).  Note that the range, as shown is where limestore is is near the surface.  If you have it planted near concrete or limestore, it should do well throughout Florida.

Propagation:

Spreads gradually and can be propagated by division. Also can be propagated by spores.

Availability:Friends, FNPS plant sales, Specialty providers
Light: Part Shade,  Shade
Moisture Tolerance:
always floodedextremely dry
 (Usually moist, occasional inundation ----- to ----- Not wet but not extremely dry)
Moisture Tolerance: Usually moist, occasional inundation ----- to ----- Not wet but not extremely dry
Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Salt Spray/ Salty Soil Tolerance:Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
Soil or other substrate:Clay, Lime rock, Sand
Soil pH:Calcareous (high pH)

Ecology

Wildlife:

Said to be resistant to deer.

Insects:
Native Habitats:

Moist hammocks and can grow attached to rock outcroppings if moisture is consistently present in the area.

Distribution and Planting Zones

Natural Range in Florida
USDA Zones

Suitable to grow in:
10A 8A 8B 9A 9B 

USDA zones are based on minimum winter temperatures

Comments

General Comments:

Widespread but sparse distribution in Florida largely based on where limestone is exposed at the surface.  If you have limestone it is appropriate to plant it even if the location is not shown on the map.