California maidenhair fern
Adiantum jordanii
Last reviewed: August 2026
Light
part shade
Water
medium
Size
8"–18" H × 12"–18" W
Bloom
N/A
Native to
CA, OR
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 431 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaA delicate fern with fan-shaped leaflets on shiny black wiry stems, forming loose clumps on shaded slopes and streambanks. Dies back during the dry season and resprouts with the return of moisture.
Wildlife value
Provides shaded cover for small invertebrates along moist slopes and streambanks.
Common questions
- How much sun does California maidenhair fern need?
- California maidenhair fern grows best in part shade conditions.
- Where is California maidenhair fern native?
- California maidenhair fern (Adiantum jordanii) is native to CA, OR, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
Ready to grow California maidenhair fern? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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