Common Maidenhair

Northern Maidenhair Fern is one of the most elegant native ferns, with delicate, fan-shaped fronds on wiry black stems that catch every breeze. You will find it in moist forests across the region, often growing on mossy banks and near waterfalls. In the garden, it transforms a shady corner into something that looks effortless.

Give it shade and consistently moist, humus-rich soil. It is not drought tolerant. The fronds die back in winter and emerge fresh in spring. Pair it with trillium, bleeding heart, and other native woodland plants for a cohesive understory. Division in early spring is the easiest way to propagate.