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Key characteristics

Family: Pteridaceae
Height: 6 to 12 inches tall
Width: Spreads slowly via rhizomes to form clumps
Flower color: Does not produce significant flowers (fern)
Foliage color: Bright green
Bloom time: N/A
Light: Part shade to full shade
Water: High; requires consistently moist soil
Maintenance: Low; remove old fronds as needed
Growing zone: USDA zones 4 to 8
Wildlife: Does not have significant wildlife attractors

Perennials

Adiantum venustum

Himalayan Maidenhair Fern

Adiantum venustum, or Himalayan maidenhair fern, is a delicate perennial native to the Himalayas, valued for its graceful, fine-textured fronds. It forms dense clumps of semi-evergreen, triangular fronds with fan-shaped leaflets on blackish stems, adding year-round greenery in milder climates. The fern thrives in partial to full shade with moist, well-draining, organic-rich soil, making it ideal for woodland gardens, shaded borders, and rock gardens. In spring, it produces spore-bearing sporangia on the frond undersides, aiding propagation under suitable conditions. This low-maintenance plant requires minimal pruning to maintain its charm.

Light

Part shade to full shade

Water

High; requires consistently moist soil

Bloom time

N/A

Find this plant

Works well in

Borders
Shade Gardens
Woodland Gardens
Rain Gardens
Rock Gardens

Companion plants

Hellebores · Japanese forest grass · Astilbes · Heucheras · Siberian bugloss · Sweet woodruff

Design tip

Foliage and form do most of the work here, so lean on texture and repetition rather than one flowering moment. Cooler light suits it, so tuck it on the north side of a shrub or wall where the soil stays even.

Printable plant sheet (PDF)