Maidenhair spleenwort is a small, evergreen herbaceous perennial in the Spleenwort family (Aspleniaceae). It is cosmopolitan in its distribution and includes most of the U.S. in its native range. It naturally occurs in shady rock crevices. Several subspecies are recognized, but our plants belong to Asplenium trichomanes subsp. trichomanes . The species epithet is an ancient Greek name for a fern. The optimum setting is moist humus among limestone rocks. It performs best in a humid climate. It is a short, dainty, fragile-looking, native fern with creeping or ascending rhizomes. It grows about 7 inches high and wide. It requires moisture along with good drainage. This plant reproduces by spores, but it can be propagated by rootstock division. When potting, you may want to create a humid climate by covering the pot with plastic until the plant is well established. Maintenance is not an issue, as little special care is required. Consider planting in a location that protects the fern from winter and early spring winds. Locations include containers, rock gardens or rock walls, and shade gardens. VIDEO Created by NC State Extension's Homegrown series featuring Mark Weathington , Director of JC Raulston Arboretum .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Forms dense, tufted rosettes of deep green evergreen fronds. Late-sprouting, fertile, arching fronds from 10 to 100 more pairs of rounded pinnae. Its sterile fronds lie on the ground once pinnate. .5 in. wide with many oblong pinnae.