Plant · GBIF taxon 2651832
northern maidenhair fern
Adiantum pedatumAlso known as Five-finger Fern, American Maidenhair Fern
Northern maidenhair ferns form delicate, fan-like whorls of bright green pinnules atop wiry, polished black stems. Preferring the nutrient-rich, damp soils of mature hardwood forests, they spread via shallow creeping rhizomes to build airy colonies along shaded slopes and stream banks. Their unique, horseshoe-shaped frond arrangement distinguishes them from almost any other woodland fern in eastern North America.
Shade TolerantLush FoliagePerennial
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (Photosynthesis)
Predators
- Slugs
- Snails
ThreatsHabitat loss, canopy removal, invasive woodland plants
HabitatsRich deciduous forests, moist shaded ravines, limestone slopes
Life spanLong-lived perennial (10+ years)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyPteridaceae
- SpeciesAdiantum pedatum
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Spotting: Look for distinctive horseshoe-shaped frond arrangements atop shiny dark stems.
- Garden Use: Plant in rich, consistently moist, shaded soil with high organic matter.
- Observation: Avoid disturbing the delicate rhizomes or snapping the fragile black stipes.
Forest Neighbor (c) Michael J. Papay, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michael J. Papay · cc-by
Forest Neighbor (c) Michael Newlon, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michael Newlon · cc-by
Close Relative 
Close Relative Starfarmer / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
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