About
This fern grows in a clump, reaching approximately 50 cm in height and width. When cultivated indoors, it typically retains its leaves year-round, while outdoor conditions may cause it to shed its foliage. The fronds are upright to arching, featuring dark green, glossy surfaces with slender pinnae and black stems. In spring, fresh growth appears with a bronze-red hue.
About the genus
Adiantum consists of ferns that may be either deciduous or evergreen, characterized by lustrous black stems. These ferns typically feature fronds that are either simple or, more commonly, divided pinnately. The individual segments can be fan-shaped, oblong, or rounded, and they produce spores beneath reflexed marginal flaps.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full shade, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- East-facing, North-facing, South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H3
Plant details
- Plant type
- Ferns
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Foliage
- Semi evergreen
- Height
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Spread
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 5-10 years
- Suggested uses
- Houseplants, Patio and container plants, Cottage and informal garden
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow outdoors in any moist but well-drained soil with plenty of added leaf-mould. If growing indoors, water freely and feed once a month when in active growth
- Pruning
- Remove dead or damaged fronds in spring
- Propagation
- Propagate by division or by spores
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to scale insects
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free