Tried and True Native Plant Selection for the Mid-Atlantic
Northern Maidenhair Fern is an elegant ornamental plant with striking black stalks that will not go unnoticed in a shaded border or garden. This native of moist woods in much of the eastern half of North America* has a singular growth habit with its fronds held horizontally in the shape of a fan.
*In the Mid-Atlantic Region: In DE, it is uncommon in the Piedmont and rare in the Coastal Plain. It is native to DC, northern and western MD, and most of PA. In VA, it is common in the mountains, frequent in the Piedmont, and infrequent in the Coastal Plain.
Learn more about Adiantum pedatum.
![Fan-like frond of Adiantum pedatum (Northern Maidenhair fern)](https://i0.wp.com/mgnv.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Adiantum_pedatum_frond_May_MMF-1-1024x1024.jpg?ssl=1)
![Adiantum pedatum (Northern Maidenhair fern) in landscape](https://i1.wp.com/mgnv.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Adiantum_pedatum_in_Landscape-1_May_ELM-1024x768.jpg?ssl=1)
![Adiantum pedatum, Northern Maidenhair Fern](https://i2.wp.com/mgnv.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/adiantum_pedatum_pinae_detail_jul_elm.jpg?ssl=1)
![Underside of fertile pinna of Adiantum pedantum](https://i1.wp.com/mgnv.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Frond_fertile_Adiantum_pedatum_Sep_MMF-1024x489.jpg?ssl=1)
![](https://i2.wp.com/mgnv.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Adiantum_pedatum_fiddlehead_Apr_MMF-768x1024.jpg?ssl=1)
![Uncoiling fiddlehead of Adiantum pedatum](https://i0.wp.com/mgnv.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Adiantum_pedatum_fiddlehead_uncoiling_Apr_MMF-1024x1024.jpg?ssl=1)
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