How much sun does Shasta maidenhair fern need?

Shasta maidenhair fern grows best in part shade conditions.

Where is Shasta maidenhair fern native?

Shasta maidenhair fern (Adiantum shastense) is native to CA, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).

Shasta maidenhair fern

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Adiantum shastense

Last reviewed: August 2026

Light

part shade

Water

medium

Size

6"–14" H × 8"–14" W

Bloom

N/A

Native to

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Small, delicate fern with dark wiry stems and finely divided, fan-shaped fronds, growing in cracks and crevices on moist rocky serpentine outcrops and canyon walls.

Wildlife value

Provides ground-level shelter for small invertebrates in shaded rocky habitats. Not a floral resource since ferns do not produce flowers.

Common questions

How much sun does Shasta maidenhair fern need?: Shasta maidenhair fern grows best in part shade conditions.
Where is Shasta maidenhair fern native?: Shasta maidenhair fern (Adiantum shastense) is native to CA, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

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