The Story
Plant Bio
Adiantum hispidulum, the rough maidenhair fern, ranges from eastern Africa through Asia to the Pacific islands, forming clumps twelve to eighteen inches high and as wide. Fronds are divided into finger-like segments on fine wiry black stalks, and open a distinct coppery pink before hardening to green. The texture is rougher than other maidenhairs.
New fronds emerge coppery pink and hold that colour for weeks, so a plant in active growth carries two tones at once. It is the least fussy of the maidenhairs but still unforgiving in one respect: a rootball allowed to dry out kills fronds within days, and they do not recover, so watering matters more than feeding or light.
Uses & Benefits:
Essentials
At a Glance
Plant Type
Fern
Height
12 inches
Width
12 inches
Light
Partial Sun, Shade
Zones
9, 10
Water
Medium
Humidity
High
Lifespan
Perennial
Native To
Eastern Africa through Asia to the Pacific islands
Toxicity
Non-toxic
Planting
How to Grow
- Plant or pot in organically rich, fertile, free-draining soil.
- Site in part to full shade with bright filtered light.
- Shelter it from direct sun and drying wind.
- Keep the soil consistently moist at all times.
- Provide reasonable air circulation around the crown.
- Remove tired fronds at the base as they age.
Pro Tip
Fronds lost to a dry rootball never come back; water before the surface dries rather than waiting for the plant to signal it.
Keep It Thriving
Care Guide
Do
- Keep the soil consistently moist 💧
- Give it bright filtered light or shade 🌳
- Provide good air circulation 🌬️
- Cut tired fronds at the base ✂️
Don't
- Let the rootball dry out ❌
- Stand it in direct sun ❌
- Leave it in waterlogged compost ❌
Seasonal Care Calendar
| Task | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Divide | ||||||||||||
| Water |
Watch Out For
Pests & Diseases
Common Pests
Common Diseases
In the Garden
Landscape Uses & Companions
Landscape Uses
Companion Plants
Multiply
Propagation Methods
Good to Know
Common Questions
Hispidum Maidenhair Fern questions
What zones can Hispidum Maidenhair Fern grow in?
Hispidum Maidenhair Fern is hardy in USDA Zones 9–10. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.
Is Hispidum Maidenhair Fern deer resistant?
Not reliably. Deer may browse Hispidum Maidenhair Fern, especially tender spring growth — plan on repellents or fencing where pressure is high.
When does Hispidum Maidenhair Fern bloom?
Hispidum Maidenhair Fern typically blooms in non-flowering; reproduces by spores through late fall. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.
Does Hispidum Maidenhair Fern need full sun?
Hispidum Maidenhair Fern does best in part shade.
More Adiantum to compare
Northern Maidenhair Fern
Adiantum pedatum
Maidenhair Fern
Adiantum capillus-veneris 'Rock Springs'
Maidenhair Fern Miss Sharples
Adiantum pedatum 'Miss Sharples'
Himalayan Maidenhair Fern
Adiantum venustum
Mairis's Maidenhair Fern
Adiantum x mairisii
Alabama Lace Southern Maidenhair Fern
Adiantum capillus-veneris 'Alabama Lace'
Keep exploring
Explore the genus
Hardy in your zone?
Grow Hispidum Maidenhair Fern with confidence
See it in a design of your actual yard, get zone-matched care reminders, and track it season by season in your garden journal.