Maidenhair Spleenwort
Asplenium trichomanes
Last reviewed: September 2026
Maidenhair spleenwort is a small evergreen fern that grows in rock crevices and on stone walls, forming tidy tufts of dark wiry stems and rounded leaflets.
Toxicity unknown
Maidenhair Spleenwort (Asplenium trichomanes) 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.
Light
part shade
Water
medium
Size
4"–12" H × 2"–6" W
Bloom
N/A
Native to
AL, AR, AZ, CA and 40 more states
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Maidenhair spleenwort is a delicate evergreen fern with narrow, dark green fronds that form compact rosettes. This small native fern thrives in rocky crevices and shaded areas, making it perfect for naturalizing in stone walls or woodland gardens. Its fine texture and tidy growth habit provide year-round interest in partially shaded locations.
Growing Maidenhair Spleenwort
Grow Maidenhair Spleenwort in part shade and medium water. Mature plants reach 4 to 12 inches tall and spread 2 to 6 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Maidenhair Spleenwort is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.
Works well in: front yard, foundation, mid zone.
Wildlife value
As a fern, this species does not attract pollinators but provides shelter for small insects and adds to the structural diversity that supports woodland ecosystems.
Common questions
- Does Asplenium trichomanes produce flowers?
- No. As a fern, maidenhair spleenwort reproduces by spores released from the undersides of its fronds rather than by flowering.
- What kind of habitat does maidenhair spleenwort prefer?
- It typically roots in narrow crevices of limestone or other rock outcrops, old stone walls, and shaded ledges where moisture collects but does not pool.
- How much light does this fern need?
- It grows best in part shade to full shade, though it can tolerate brighter part sun conditions if the roots stay cool and slightly moist.
- Is maidenhair spleenwort evergreen?
- Yes, its fronds generally persist through winter in most of its range, though they may look tattered by late winter before new growth emerges in spring.
- Does it attract pollinators?
- No. Ferns do not flower, so they do not attract pollinators in the way flowering plants do.
- Is Maidenhair Spleenwort HOA-friendly?
- Maidenhair Spleenwort is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). 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.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
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