Southern Maidenhair fern is a variable species, occurring from the Dakotas south to Florida and across the ocean to Asia. This particularly robust Virginia form was shared by plantsman extraordinaire Paul James from a selection in his garden. For us, a 5 year-old plant makes a 3-4′ wide patch of soft, delicate-looking foliage…superb in the woodland garden. Adiantum capillus-veneris grows much faster in moist soils, but is amazingly tolerant of fairly dry sites although the growth rate slows considerably.
