Banksianum Maidenhair Fern

Carried by 2 nurseries

Estimated plant range Estimated plant range

Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Plant description

Banksianum Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum capillus-veneris 'Banksianum') is an uncommon cultivar or clone of the native Southern Maidenhair (Adiantum capillus-veneris) that was selected for horticulture.

This fern has a graceful form, with mature arching fronds 12 to 18 inches tall and wide. The fronds divide to display bright green broadly triangular shaped leaflets on the black leaf stems. This fern grows best in loamy, medium to slow draining soil that's consistently moist. It's good in containers receiving regular watering, and adjacent to water features. In the ground it can tolerate infrequent irrigation and be relatively fairly drought-tolerant because if necessary it can recede in summer dormancy to return when moisture is available.

It prefers shaded areas with bright indirect light in coastal and inland gardens. It is evergreen to about 20 degrees F, but will rebound after colder frosts.

Plant overview

Plant type

Fern

Size

1 - 2 ft Tall
1 - 2 ft Wide

Form

Rounded, Weeping

Growth rate

Moderate

Dormancy

Evergreen

Special uses

Containers, Deer resistant, Groundcover, Water features or wet habitats

Landscaping information

Sun

Deep Shade, Partial Shade

Water

Moderate, High

Summer irrigation

Keep moist

Ease of care

Moderate

Cold tolerance

Soil drainage

Medium, Slow

Soil description

loamy, medium or slow draining.
Soil PH: 4.0 - 8.0

Propagation

Divisions.

Sunset Zones

2*, 3*, 4*, 5*, 6*, 7, 8*, 9*, 10*, 11*, 12*, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

Natural setting

Site type

Moist riparian areas, seeps and springs.

Companion plants

See all

Trees - Western Sycamore (Platanus racemes), White Alder (Alnus rhombifolia), Cottonwoods (Populus spp.), California Fan Palm (Washingtonia filifera)

Other shade plants - Deer Fern (Blechnum spicant), Horsetails (Equisetum spp.), Polypody Ferns (Polypodium spp.), Sword Ferns (Polystichum spp.), Chain Fern (Woodwardia fimbriata), Meadow Rue (Thalictrum fendleri), Yerba Buena (Clinopodium douglasii), Western Columbine (Aquilegia formosa), Seep Monkey Flower (Erythranthe guttata), Scarlet Monkeyflower (Erythranthe cardinalis)

Common names:

Banksianum Maidenhair Fern

Sources

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Additional references for this page:

Thanks to the Theodore Payne Foundation for sharing information about this plant.