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Summary
Form: Spreading or horizontal, Upright or erect.
Physical Characteristics
Adiantum is a FERN growing to 0.3 m (1ft) by 0.3 m (1ft in) at a slow rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9 and is frost tender. The seeds ripen from May to September.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland). It prefers moist soil.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
Plant Habitats
Edible Uses
The fronds are used as a garnish on sweet dishes[5]. The dried fronds are used to make a tea[2, 106, 115, 177, 183]. A syrup is made from the plant - it makes a refreshing summer drink[115, 183]. The fern (does this refer to the rootstock?) is simmered in water for several hours and the liquid made into a thick syrup with sugar and orange water. It is then mixed with fruit juices to make a refreshing drink.
References More on Edible Uses
Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
The maidenhair fern has a long history of medicinal use and was the main ingredient of a popular cough syrup called 'Capillaire', which remained in use until the nineteenth century[268]. The plant is little used in modern herbalism. The fresh or dried leafy fronds are antidandruff, antitussive, astringent, demulcent, depurative, emetic, weakly emmenagogue, emollient, weakly expectorant, febrifuge, galactogogue, laxative, pectoral, refrigerant, stimulant, sudorific and tonic[4, 7, 9, 21, 46, 61, 218, 222, 240, 268]. A tea or syrup is used in the treatment of coughs, throat afflictions and bronchitis[222]. It is also used as a detoxicant in alcoholism[7] and to expel worms from the body[222]. Externally, it is used as a poultice on snake bites, bee stings etc[218, 222, 257]. In Nepal, a paste made from the fronds is applied to the forehead to relieve headaches and to the chest to relieve chest pains[272]. The plant is best used fresh, though it can also be harvested in the summer and dried for later use[7, 9].
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
The leaves are used as a hair tonic and treatment for dandruff[21, 106, 222].
Special Uses
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
Landscape Uses:Border, Container, Ground cover, Woodland garden. Requires an abundance of moisture in the air and in the soil[4], though the soil should be well-drained[238]. Likes a position with plenty of light but dislikes full sun[1]. Prefers a sheltered shady position[238]. If the plant dries out temporarily it will lose most of its fronds, though it will usually resprout from the base[238]. Plants are not very hardy outdoors in Britain, even though they are a native species[K]. They only succeed in areas with little or no frosts, growing well on maritime cliffs in the milder areas of the country[K]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[233]. A very ornamental plant[1]. Special Features:Attractive foliage, Not North American native, Naturalizing, There are no flowers or blooms.
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
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Plant Propagation
Spores - best sown as soon as ripe on the surface of a humus-rich sterilized soil. Keep the compost moist, preferably by putting a plastic bag over the pot. Germination should take place within 6 weeks[238]. Pot on small clumps of plantlets as soon as they are large enough to handle and keep humid until they are well established. Do not plant outside until the ferns are at least 2 years old and then only in a very well sheltered position. Division in spring or autumn. Best carried out in early spring[238].
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Native Range
TEMPERATE ASIA: Turkey NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (Alberta, British Columbia), United States (Missouri, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Colorado, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah), Mexico (Baja, Chihuahua, Coahuila de Zaragoza, Durango, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Chiapas, Colima, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Jalisco, México, Michoacán de Ocampo, Morelos, Nayarit, Puebla, Querétaro, Tlaxcala) SOUTHERN AMERICA: Cuba, United States (Puerto Rico), Guatemala EUROPE: Ukraine (Krym), Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Spain, France AFRICA: Portugal (Azores), Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini, South Africa (Cape Province, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, Transvaal), Madagascar
Weed Potential
Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section.
Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :
Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.
Expert comment
Author
L.
Botanical References
17200
Links / References
For a list of references used on this page please go here
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