Adiantum jordanii
California maidenhair fern
Overview
Adiantum jordanii is a small, airy fern in the brake family growing 8-18 inches (20-45 cm) tall from a short, scaly rhizome. The wiry, dark brown to black stalks branch and arch to carry loosely divided fronds of thin, fan-shaped to wedge-shaped leaflets 0.4-0.8 inch (10-20 mm) wide, light to medium green and notched along the outer edge. Bands of spore cases sit under the curled-over leaflet margins. A. jordanii grows on moist, shaded banks, canyon walls, seeps, and slopes in the coastal hills and foothills of California and southern Oregon, often on slightly disturbed, well-drained ground. It needs cool, damp shade in spring but tolerates summer drought by going dormant, dropping its fronds and reviving with fall rains. It rots in standing water and scorches in sun or dry wind. The thin fronds are easily damaged, and the plant spreads slowly by the rhizome. New growth emerges with the cool, moist weather of fall and winter. The dark, hair-like stalks give the fern its common name.
Native Range
Native to California and southern Oregon, growing on moist, shaded banks, canyon walls, seeps, and slopes in coastal hills and foothills.Suggested Uses
Used in shaded woodland gardens, on damp banks and walls, and in containers with steady moisture and drainage. It suits cool, shaded spots beside seeps and streams. Hot, dry, or sunny sites are unsuited to it.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height8" - 1'6"
Width/Spread8" - 1'3"
Bloom Information
As a fern, it produces no flowers and reproduces by spores. Spore cases ripen under the curled leaflet margins from spring into summer. New fronds unfurl with the cool, moist weather of fall and winter.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Tolerates up to 4 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Adiantum jordanii grows in part to full shade and moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil with a pH from about 6.0 to 7.5. It needs cool, damp conditions in the growing season and goes summer-dormant in dry sites, dropping fronds and regrowing with fall rains. Direct sun, hot wind, and standing water all damage it. It is propagated from spores or by careful division of the rhizome, which re-establishes slowly. A mulch of leaf litter keeps the roots cool and moist. No fertilizer is needed in rich woodland soil.Pruning
Dead or tattered fronds are removed as new ones appear. Old fronds are cleared after summer dormancy or winter damage. No other pruning is needed.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons