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Northern maidenhair fern
Habit (mature) · Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Limited coverage
Northern maidenhair fern
Adiantum pedatum
A native fern with one of the most distinctive frond architectures in the plant kingdom: delicate emerald-green fronds borne on black wiry stems arranged in a horizontal pinwheel (palmate) pattern. Mature plants form layered tiers of pinwheels. Deciduous but utterly charming through the growing season. Excellent for damp shade — moist rich woodland soils are the ideal habitat.
Native: 35 US states + 4 CA provinces
Review: Source-backed
Climate fit: broad (83/100)
Filler
Focal point
Light
Part shade
Water
Consistent moisture
Mature size
12-24" tall · 18" apart
Hardy in zones
3a-8b
brutally cold to frosty winters
Summer heat range
Cool-Hot
cool to hot summers Interim Plotwright tier until the plant AHS range is authored.
Native in Illinois
Yes
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Native across 39 US states and Canadian provinces — a wide-ranging part of North America's plant communities.
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Cold hardiness
Now
Zone 6b
USDA
Chicago, IL · 1991-2020 average annual coldest day
Source: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (1991-2020 climatology) via ArcGIS FeatureServer
Well-suited
2050
Zone 7b
Plotwright
Your zone + climate-model shift · SSP3-7.0 (regional rivalry)
Well-suited
In plain terms: cold winters — coldest nights typically around -3°F.
Well-suited today and still thriving in 2050.
Heat tolerance
Loading current AHS heat-zone and plant heat-fit data at your coordinates…
Sources & citations
Cite this page
For lesson plans, articles, or research that uses this page. To cite a single upstream fact instead, use its specific source listed below.
Plotwright. (2026, May 17). Northern maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum). Retrieved 2026, June 5, from https://plotwright.garden/plants/maidenhair-fern
Sources for every fact
Every fact on this page traces to a source. 18 fields cited18 source-backed.
NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
University extension service
Backs 17 fields
Identity
Summary
Plant type
Light
Moisture
Hardiness
Heat zone
Size
Spacing
Habit
Design roles
Seasonal interest
Growth stages
Lifecycle
Regional guidance
Success tips
Designer notes
Wikimedia Commons
Photo · CC BY-SA 4.0
Backs 1 field
Image
Community photos
The photos above are our reviewed reference set, curated for accuracy.
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