Re: Maidenair Fern
- To:
- Subject: Re: Maidenair Fern
- From: M* T*
- Date: Sun, 11 Feb 2001 02:06:38 -0500
> In a message dated 02/10/2001 12:01:35 AM Central Standard Time,
> ECPep@aol.com writes:
>
> << Has anyone on this list struggled with Maidenhairs and then
prevailed?? I
> love those ferns, but have had nothing but bad experiences. They
are not
> "easy" as advertised!! >>
I also grow Adiantum pedatum, and have found it a tough and lovely
fern. Have 2 clumps. One - who was originally in a lot of shade,
but is now in really too much sun after the large oak shading it was
struck by lightening and had to be removed 4 or 5 years ago - has
expanded to about 2' x 2.5' from a single rhizome in probably 18
years. Adore that fern. New growth is delicate puce (incredible
with sun backlighting it), turning to black stems with lettuce green
fronds. It's now trying out the cracks in the walk paving for
size...really gotta divide that child. The other, much smaller
clump, grows right at the base of a nasty huge boxelder, surrounded
by ivy. It needs moving, but I don't think I can get it out of
there. Been there for about 20 years and keeps on coming up in
spring, but doesn't expand...couldn't, poor dear, as there is nowhere
to expand to. It is in almost total shade - on the north side of
this tree - in moderately amended MD clay that gets bone dry in
summer tho' I water enough to keep the water company in champagne and
limos.
I've not found this fern at all difficult to grow. Wonder, Claire if
you're too far north for it or something? My soil is on the acid
side; drains very well. The large clump is at the front of a border
that was originally double dug - some 20 odd years ago - but has not
been dug up for more than a decade, so has pretty well reverted to
clay with organic matter on top. Have never fed these ferns; they
get Mother Nature's mulch in winter that is raked off or picked
tediously out of the emerging fronds in spring if I wait too long to
clean up. They get water when the rest of the area gets watered.
The only special care is removal of old, dead stems in spring.
I also have a Adiantum capillus-veneris that I got at NARGS winter
study weekend 2 years ago - lives in a pot and stays green all year
around...seems to be happy and pretty undemanding. Winters in my
coldish greenhouse and summers outside in the shade. Also a lovely
thing that I understand is not hardy where I am.
Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
Editor: Gardening in Shade
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