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Common Maidenhair Fern

Adiantum capillus-veneris

Last reviewed: September 2026

Common Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum capillus-veneris)
Photo: no rights reserved, uploaded by Kate Harper

Toxicity unknown

Common Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum capillus-veneris) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Common Maidenhair Fern as toxic to livestock.

Light

full sun

Water

medium

Size

6"–21" H × 9"–18" W

Bloom

N/A

Native to

AL, AR, AZ, CA and 20 more states

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 460 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Coast RangeSierra NevadaCentral California Foothills and Coastal MountainsCentral California ValleySouthern California MountainsCentral Basin and RangeMojave Basin and RangeNorth American DesertsArizona/New Mexico MountainsChihuahuan DesertsHigh PlainsSouthwestern TablelandsCross TimbersEdwards PlateauSouthern Texas PlainsTexas Blackland PrairiesEastern Temperate ForestsOzark HighlandsPiedmontMiddle Atlantic Coastal PlainNorthern PiedmontSoutheastern PlainsBlue RidgeRidge and ValleyCentral AppalachiansInterior PlateauMississippi Alluvial PlainMississippi Valley Loess PlainsSouthern Coastal PlainMadrean ArchipelagoSonoran Basin and RangeSouthern California/Northern Baja Coast

Common Maidenhair Fern is a delicate native fern with distinctive fan-shaped leaflets on thin black stems. It thrives in shaded, moist conditions and adds soft texture to woodland gardens and protected areas.

In an HOA neighborhood

Common Maidenhair Fern is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 2 out of 5.

Works well in: foundation, mid zone.

Wildlife value

As a fern, it does not attract pollinators but provides shelter and nesting material for small wildlife. The dense fronds offer cover for beneficial insects and small creatures.

Common questions

How much sun does Common Maidenhair Fern need?
Common Maidenhair Fern grows best in full sun conditions.
Where is Common Maidenhair Fern native?
Common Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum capillus-veneris) is native to AL, AR, AZ, CA and 20 more states, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
Is Common Maidenhair Fern toxic to livestock?
The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Common Maidenhair Fern as toxic to livestock.
Is Common Maidenhair Fern HOA-friendly?
Common Maidenhair Fern is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.

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.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

See all plant problem guides

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