Northern Maidenhair Fern plant profile
Adiantum pedatum
A perennial fern for shade.
Last updated .
When to plant
When to plant Northern Maidenhair Fern
Northern maidenhair fern is a delicate deciduous shade fern whose pink crosiers (coiled fiddleheads) emerge in spring; the fronds die back in winter. NC State's recommended way to propagate it is by division, so set out plants or divisions in spring.
The calendar shows this cited seasonal window as an approximate band. It does not convert the season into frost-adjusted dates.
Open Northern Maidenhair Fern in my garden calendarShows the source-backed planting season, not frost-adjusted dates.
Growing conditions
- Sun
- Shade
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Spacing
- 12 to 36 in apart
- Hardiness
- Zones 3a to 8bFind my hardiness zone
Next steps
Continue with Northern Maidenhair Fern
Evidence trail
Evidence behind this profile
Original extension and institutional publications behind the planting, care, and safety facts on this page.
- Adiantum pedatum (Northern Maidenhair Fern)
North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox (NC State Extension). Supports general reference. Checked 2026-06-18.