About
Adiantum raddianum 'Kensington Gem' is a perennial fern that reaches a height of approximately 80 cm. It features wide, arching fronds with dark black stems and light green foliage. The fronds have segment stalks that can extend up to 10 mm, showcasing deeply lobed, serrated segments that overlap significantly, particularly at the tips where they cluster closely together.
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
- Partial shade
- Soil type
- Loam
- Soil pH
- Neutral, Alkaline, Acid
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- West-facing, East-facing, North-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H1C
Plant details
- Plant type
- Ferns
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Foliage
- Semi evergreen, Evergreen
- Height
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Spread
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 2-5 years
- Suggested uses
- Houseplants
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow as a house or conservatory plant indoors in a peat-free houseplant compost. Position the container in bright, indirect light with good ventilation. Water freely and apply a half strength, general liquid feed monthly from mid spring to late summer. Provide high humidity by placing the container on a tray of moist gravel or pebbles. Water sparingly in winter. See how to grow ferns as houseplants for further information
- Pruning
- Can trim back any faded growth in winter if required or wait for new growth to start emerging in spring.
- Propagation
- Propagate by division of rhizomes in spring
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to scale insects
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free